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#chefs do a lot of reading from recipe books in the beginning
uglypastels · 9 months
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i have to say this, eddie love fucking you when you’re in a messy bun and your glasses almost falling down your nose. Chef’s kiss
Chef's kiss indeed and i hope this is ok, but this gave me major librarian!reader vibes, and I meant to make this pure filth, but as I started writing, I realised that I adore these two wholeheartedly, so please enjoy the fluff fest around it.
warnings: 18+ only MINORS DO NOT INTERACT. p in v sex. sex in a public place. unprotected sex (dzon't dzo it). swearing.
masterlist // inbox //
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Working in the Hawkins Town Library, you got to be in the presence of almost everybody who lived there, from the youngest readers to the eldest. Everyone needed books for one reason or another, let it be homework research, recipes or just some entertainment. There were the quiet readers who settled themselves somewhere in a corner to spend the rest of the day with their noses in between the pages; the ones who search for hours for the one book they had their mind set on the moment they walked in; the ones that, for whatever reason, forget to stay silent. There were fans of fantasy as well as historical non-fiction, philosophy and romance. There was a place for everybody here. 
With such a variety in patrons, it was only natural you grew to have favourites. Some might be more self-explanatory than others. Of course, your heart doubled when Julie came in with her daughter, Sandy [who just turned six!], to pick out a new book every few weeks. Or old man Farrell who already knew all the facts in the books he checked out and was more than happy to share with you.
It could come to most people as a shock then that the person you looked forward to seeing the most was none other than Eddie Munson.
Surprisingly, he could be the definition of the perfect library patron. Besides the fact that he had never been late with book returns, when you started working there, the first few times Eddie came by, he scared you to death—so quiet was he, sneaking around the aisles and up to the counter to check his stacks of books out.
‘Sorry, didn’t mean to scare ya there, sweetheart,’ he said as he put the books on the desk. 
‘It’s alright.’ You started picking up books from the pile, stamping in the date on the inside sheet. ‘Might have to consider getting a bell.’ You smiled, ‘that way I could hear you coming.’ 
‘Hmm, too bad I don’t have a bell.’ Eddie clicked his tongue but reached into one of his pockets, ‘but… would these do?’ He pulled out a handful of thin metal chains. They rattle around. 
‘Why do you have those in your pocket?’ You asked curiously as you gave him back the books. 
‘Always have them on me– I mean, on my jeans, but I take them off when I’m hear. Don’t want to disturb anyone.’ And with that, he gave you a shy little smile that made your heart melt. 
‘That is, actually, really sweet of you.’ If only more people were so considerate. ‘Thank you.’ 
‘Yeah, well, I have my moments.’ He shrugged nonchalantly. ‘I’ll see you around.’
‘See ya.’ You waved as he walked away, barely able to contain the smile on your face that the metalhead had caused. 
Not a lot changed since that day, but your and Eddie’s conversations did begin to grow. You’d keep on talking while you checked out his books, sometimes for so long that another patron would have to interrupt to get their books. Then, Eddie would pop by your desk to ask for the location of some particular book— one you had never heard of, in all honesty, but he probably easily could have found it if he bothered to look through the cards. 
‘Excuse me, sweetheart,’ he’d clear his throat, ‘do you have any idea where I could find Carrots Love Tomatoes?’ 
‘Sorry?’ You must have misheard the title.
‘Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. It’s for my uncle.’ Eddie would clarify, reading the title out from a scrap of paper he had scribbled on. 
‘Right. Do you know who it’s by, perchance?’ 
‘I’m surprised you don’t.’ He reread the paper. ‘Louise Riotte– shit, I’m definitely mispronouncing that.’ He quickly spelt it out for you.
Well, you had to admit, you weren’t personally familiar with Miss Riotte’s work, but you knew this library inside-out and told Eddie to follow you into the section you thought it most likely to be. The non-fiction section was off in the corner of the library, with only rectangular windows blocks near the ceiling, letting in barely any daylight. The light was, instead, coming from the lamps above you; they flickered and buzzed on the off-moments. 
Eddie stayed a step behind you as you navigated through the shelves, muttering the alphabet to yourself repeatedly as you tried to find the RI– shelf. Once you finally found it, you realised it was on the top of the bookcase, where you couldn’t reach it. 
‘It’s up there.’ You pointed, thinking that maybe Eddie would just get it himself now. But instead, Eddie offered to pick you up. A bit flustered, you accepted the offer and tried to ignore the feeling of his hands on your hips, the way his rings dug into your soft skin. He picked you up, and you grabbed the book quickly. Once back down on the ground again, you handed it over to him. Eddie thanked you with a large smile as he looked at the book. 
He frowned. 
‘Something wrong?’ You asked. 
‘No, no, it’s all good, thanks. It’s just that…I don’t know…’ He looked at the book a bit longer. ‘Oh, you know what? I think I must have read it wrong.’ He looked down at the scrap of paper again. ‘...yeah. That definitely says Catcher in the Rye. Well, thank you anyway, sweetheart. Really ‘preciate it.’ 
‘You’re an idiot, Eddie Munson.’ You laughed. 
‘Uhm, I’ll have you know,’ he leaned against the bookcase by your side, ‘that this had actually all been an act of sheer brilliance.’ 
‘Oh?’ You were leaning against it, too, your shoulders almost touching. 
‘Yes. I would say that the way I got you here with me, away from all those people, is MacGyver-level brilliance.’ 
‘Don’t you think it might have been easier to just… I don’t know, just ask me to meet you here.’ You would have been going on a break soon anyway.
Eddie grinned as he leaned forward to you, ‘Now, what would be the fun in that?’ You could feel his breath on you. The scent of excessive bubblegum chewing greeted you. 
‘Fair enough,’ you tried to act cool, ignoring the hot flashes he was causing all over your body. ‘So, why did you want me to come out here? What couldn’t wait until my lunch break, Munson?’ 
‘Just wanted to say how cute you looked today.’ Eddie smiled, then, as if he remembered something– ‘Oh, and this–’ he leaned in, cupping your face in his hand, kissing you softly. 
So, perhaps, some things had changed over time. Smalltalk and jokes at the front desk turned into stolen kisses and hushed laughter in the dark corners of the library. Just as with everything around, Eddie was gentle and soft. His grip on you was there for support, to make you feel how much he wanted you near him. 
You pulled away with a small gasp, chest-beating fast, eyes fluttering open.
‘But I suppose I could have waited with that.’ Eddie said afterwards, his hand still on your cheek. 
‘I’m glad you didn’t.’ Your voice was hushed, but you kissed Eddie deeply instead of breathing in the air you needed. You pulled at his shirt to bring him closer, and his other hand reached for your waist, tugging at the hem of your shirt. 
‘You should probably get back,’ he muttered between kisses. 
‘Probably,’ you replied. Neither of you meant any of it, and you both knew it. You had no idea why you only saw each other at the library. Maybe because you always knew to find each other here; it was a certainty. Outside, it would be a mere coincidence to bump into Eddie. Here, you knew he would be here every week.
Maybe because it felt like a haven for both of you and it felt like a different reality—an escape from the real world. But it was precisely this that made everything else so fragile. Who knew what it would be like outside of these bookshelves? You didn’t want to know, so why risk it? What you had now, it was an unspoken agreement. One you both were more than happy with. It was special—a rarity. 
Everything- the kiss, the hold, the emotions, the heat- all intensified the longer you kept going. It was getting messy and rough. Eddie had locked you in between him and the bookcase. You could feel him all over you. His hair tickling your face, his cold rings on your skin, his clothes pressing into you, his— fuck, he was huge. You could feel him against your thigh, no hiding it. 
‘Fuck, I’ve been thinking about this the whole week.’ He breathed against your neck. ‘Haven’t stopped thinking about you.’ You would have told him the same if you could form an entire sentence. It was hard to concentrate daily when you had the memory of his touch plague you every day, and everything around you at your job was a heavy reminder.
‘Need… I need you, Eddie,’ you gasped out as he kissed your neck, right on the spot that made your knees go weak. ‘Please.’ 
‘Hmm, need you too, sweetheart.’ He was roaming his hand over your bare thigh underneath your skirt. Sometimes you wondered if anyone around had noticed that you really only wore them on days of Eddie’s library visits. Perhaps Eddie hadn’t picked up on that specifically, but he certainly enjoyed your style. ‘Drive my fucking wild in these short skirts of yours.’ The words rolled out of his mouth as he began unzipping his jeans. ‘Look so fucking good.’ 
‘Thank you,’ you moaned, giggling about how giddy you felt that he was complimenting you while preparing to thrust his dick in you. It was all so silly, so stupid. You were doing something incredibly risky, most likely illegal, but you couldn’t care one bit. All you could think about was how good he made you feel. How happy you felt with him. 
‘C’mere,’ Eddie groaned, pulling you up by your thighs, holding you against the shelves. Luckily, they were pretty sturdy, bolted to the ground, so his force pushing you against them barely mattered. On you, however, it was another story. 
‘Oh, fuck,’ you whimpered, trying to stay quiet at the feeling of him inside you. After letting you adjust quickly, he started thrusting in you hard and deep. The way he was moving against you, it made your whole body shake. You could feel your glasses slip down your nose. In the haze of it all, you had forgotten to take them off but were about to do so– when Eddie interrupted. 
‘No, keep them on.’ He kissed your cheek.
‘Why?’ you didn’t see a reason for them. 
‘Want you to see me fucking you.’ His smile was airy. ‘Besides, it’s hot as shit. The way you get so messy for me. And your hair,’ he punctuated each sentence with a deep thrust. One of his hands brushed some of your hair out of your face, ‘I wish I could take a picture of you right now. Would cum to it like every day.’ 
‘Gross.’ You joked, and in return, Eddie grazed his teeth over your collarbone, nipping at your skin slightly. 
‘Calling me gross as if you’re not getting fucked in the middle of the library.’ Eddie’s smile was contagious. As he continued, your glasses were falling again, but he quickly pushed them back over the bridge of your nose. ‘You’re fucking filthy, sweetheart.’ 
‘I’m–’ you gasped as he went deeper. 
‘Yeah, baby?’ 
‘I’m– I’m close, Eddie.’ You tried to whisper as best as you could, biting down on any noises that could be heard from afar.
‘Mmm, I know, you’re so tight. So perfect.’ he moaned through his last hard thrusts. You could feel your climax coming, knew how it would come, and quickly hid your face in the nape of his neck to muffle your scream of pleasure as it washed over you. Eddie rode it out with you, only moments behind. 
He held you briefly, letting you come down and stabilise your breathing. You smiled at eachother sheepishly and kissed deeply once more. There was nothing else to say.
Eddie pulled out, the emptiness hitting you immensely. It was a strange sensation, and you still didn’t feel quite yourself as your feet touched the ground again. But Eddie’s hands stayed on you for stability. 
‘You’re a dream, sweetheart. Just… unbelievable.’
Eddie brushed the loose strands of hair from your face again while you readjusted your glasses. There was nothing else to say.
Now came the awkward part where you timed your exit from the aisle and hid the guilty sex-glow look on your face. 
It was a slow day at the library, so no one awaited you at the front desk. You took your place and tried to shake off all your emotions, and it worked for the most part, except for the giant smile. That you just could not get rid of. 
It was still there when Eddie returned to you twenty minutes later, now accompanied by a new stack of books. 
‘Found everything you were looking for?’ You asked as you took the books from him. 
‘That and more.’ He leaned his elbows on the wood, grinning like an idiot. You had to tell yourself not to look at him, or you would get lost in those big brown eyes. 
‘I’m happy to hear that.’ You stamped the date into all the books and returned them to Eddie. ‘Here you go.’ 
‘Thanks, sweetheart.’ Eddie grabbed them under his arm. ‘Same time next week?’ He winked. Once, the words really were only meant for this little exchange. That had been all you were looking forward to—the small chat at the desk. Back then, you would have never imagined the things you would get up to with the metalhead in the barely visited sections of the library. 
‘See you, Eddie.’ You shook your head, still smiling, of course. And that was that. There was nothing else to say. 
At least, there wasn’t before. All those other times, that really would have been it. Eddie would have walked away, and you would have watched him do so while already awaiting his comeback. Yet this time…
This time, Eddie stayed in his place. 
‘Can I… help you with anything else?’ You raised a brow. 
‘Uhh–’ Eddie cleared his throat. ‘Yes. Yes, you could. See if I have these… these two tickets for this thing— a concert… and see, I have no idea what to do with this second one, so maybe you could help me with that.’ He spoke fast and like he was stumbling over an uneven pavement instead of words, but you followed it nonetheless.
‘Concert?’ You asked. 
‘Yes.’ He expanded with the name of a band you had never heard of before. ‘This weekend.’
You thought for a moment, or at least pretended to, as you already knew your answer. ‘I might have a friend who would be interested in taking that ticket off you.’ 
‘Any chance this friend of yours wears cute glasses, short skirts and works at my favourite spot in the city?’ 
‘She just might.’ You bit the inside of your cheek. 
‘Then it’s deal, sweetheart,’ Eddie slammed his hand on the table in excitement, then immediately cringed at the noise he made. That same noise seemed to have awakened a quick realisation in him: ‘Wait, we were talking about you, right?’
‘Yes, Eddie. I would love to go to the concert with you.’ You rolled your eyes at the needed clarification.
‘Cool, just checking. Great.’ he started walking away now. ‘Great. I’ll pick you up– wait; I don’t even know where you live.’ 
‘You can pick me up here.’
‘Do you live at the library?’ he asked quickly, and you were sure he was being serious.
‘No, Eddie, I do not, but I work weekends too. But you can bring me back to my place afterwards. Stay the night, maybe?’ Was that too much too quickly? You started to panic for a second, thinking you took it too far, but then Eddie replied, repeating his previous words.
‘It’s a deal, sweetheart.’
the end
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thank you so much for reading!! please consider supporting with comments and reblogs <3 (maybe leave a review??) I would love to hear your thoughts
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americanforecast · 4 months
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A Sardinian soup with fregola and white beans
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A Sardinian soup with fregola and white beans A Sardinian soup with fregola and white beans: As chef Luigi Crisponi stood in his Santa Rughe restaurant in Sardinia, he insisted there was nothing he can educate about s’erbuzzu. The brothy but nonetheless thick soup — a specialty of the Italian island — is simply manufactured from greens, beans, and tiny, chewy nuggets of pasta. “There isn't any recipe,” he stated. “There’s simply herbs.” As many as 14 herbs, in truth, a lot of them foraged bitter greens. With just a little perseverance, he gave in. White beans soak in a single day, then slowly simmer with a little bit of browned pancetta. Then the greens, finely chopped, are simmered till the beans are prepared. Simply earlier than serving, the cheese and a little bit of fregola — the small, pellet-like pasta Sardinia is thought for — are stirred in. Simply sufficient to thicken the broth. It was daring, but recent, natural and lightweight, traits we mimicked for the recipe in our e book “Tuesday Nights Mediterranean,” which options weeknight-friendly meals from the area. We narrowed the listing of herbs and greens to these we felt had probably the most affect: parsley for grassiness, tarragon for candy anise notes and arugula for pepperiness. We additionally used pancetta to construct a savory spine and ricotta salata cheese, as Sardinians do, for complexity. When you can’t discover fregola, substitute an equal quantity of pearl couscous, however cook dinner it for less than 5 minutes earlier than including the beans, parsley and garlic. And if ricotta salata just isn't out there, finely grated pecorino Romano is an affordable swap, however halve the quantity. Sardinian Herb Soup with Fregola and White Beans (S’erbuzzu) Begin to end: 45 minutes Servings: 4 Substances: A Sardinian soup with fregola and white beans 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve 3 to 4 ounces pancetta, chopped 1 bunch flat-leaf parsley, stems minced, leaves roughly chopped, reserved individually 1½ teaspoons fennel seeds ½ cup dry white wine Kosher salt and floor black pepper 2 quarts low-sodium hen broth ¾ cup fregola (see headnote) 15½-ounce can massive white beans, reminiscent of butter beans, rinsed and drained 3 medium garlic cloves, minced 4 ounces ricotta salata cheese (see headnote), crumbled (¾ cup) 4 ounces child arugula (about 6 cups frivolously packed), roughly chopped ½ cup frivolously packed recent tarragon, chopped Instructions: A Sardinian soup with fregola and white beans In a big pot over medium, warmth the oil and pancetta. Prepare dinner, stirring often, till the pancetta is browned, 6 to eight minutes. Stir within the parsley stems and fennel seeds, then add the wine and 1 teaspoon pepper, scraping up any browned bits. Deliver to a simmer over medium-high and cook dinner, stirring, till many of the moisture has evaporated, 2 to three minutes. Add the broth and convey to a boil over excessive. Stir within the fregola and cook dinner, stirring often and adjusting the warmth to take care of a simmer, till the fregola is simply shy of tender, about 10 minutes. Add the beans, garlic, parsley leaves and half of the ricotta salata, then proceed to cook dinner, stirring often and adjusting the warmth to take care of a naked simmer, till the fregola is absolutely tender, about one other 10 minutes. Off warmth, stir within the arugula and tarragon, then style and season with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with the remaining ricotta salata and drizzled with further oil. Get extra recipes and dinner concepts from The Washington Instances meals part. Read the full article
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reasoningdaily · 5 months
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Cookbook author Klancy Miller’s culinary journey didn’t originally involve food writing. Her story started in Paris, where she attended school to specialize in baking, with dreams of opening a French bakery upon her return to the States. Miller quickly realized, however, that running her own shop wouldn’t be sustainable for her—the work is often thankless, and the hours are long and hard. She described herself as being “slow in the kitchen” and unlikely to fare well in a fast-paced environment like a restaurant. So she transitioned to food writing and recipe development, eventually publishing her first cookbook, Cooking Solo: The Fun of Cooking for Yourself, in 2016.
“Years later, I was approached to do an editorial piece on Black women in food, and it ended up not working out,” Miller told me over the phone. “But I got really interested in it, because I started doing a lot of research and meeting a lot of people doing amazing things that I wasn’t aware of. We work for decades—or, you could say, centuries—yet we aren’t the ones in the spotlight. I didn’t know of many Black women who were my peers or who came before me, so there was kind of a curiosity there. A friend encouraged me to continue that work, which became the beginning of For the Culture, the magazine.”
The magazine answered a clear need in the world of food media, and it quickly became a hit. For the Culture, the book, out this week from Harvest, is an extension of Miller’s previous editorial feat and a road map detailing the journeys and experiences of Black women and femmes in food. It’s a huge topic: Black women have shaped cuisine in America and all over the world, and it’s important that the nuances of their varied histories are presented with care.
A narrative-led cookbook, For the Culture: Phenomenal Black Women and Femmes in Food: Interviews, Inspiration, and Recipes represents a gold mine of Black women and femmes across generations and disciplines that center food and drink. The book begins with glowing profiles of our culinary matriarchs, pioneers such as Leah Chase, Edna Lewis, B. Smith, and Lena Richard—the first Black woman to have her own televised cooking show, predating Julia Child. Each of these women laid the foundation for those who came after them, in various ways.
“I believe representation really does matter,” Miller says. “And I believe when you see someone that looks like you, it opens your eyes to what your options are. When you see someone that looks like you doing amazing work in any field, it expands your conscious set of possibilities. If you’re already in the field—in this case it’s culinary and hospitality—you can be a chef. You can also be a food writer. You can also be a farmer. You can also be a sommelier. You can also be an entrepreneur in other ways in the culinary field, and that’s something that I didn’t know when I went to culinary school.”
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The robust roster of contributors to the book include farmer and educator Leah Penniman; chef, writer, and TV host Sophia Roe; wine consultant and journalist Julia Coney; author and Cook’s Country editor in chief Toni Tipton-Martin; pastry chef and Bakers Against Racism founder Paola Velez; and many, many more active participants and leaders from diverse food disciplines. In For the Culture, we learn about what called them to their work, what challenges them, and what they love to eat and drink. In addition to the recipes they’ve contributed, which range from calypso persimmon baked chicken wings to watermelon poke, they offer honest conversation about mental health, money, and working conditions, all invaluable lessons as they pertain to Black women and femmes in creative fields.
“I’m a Capricorn, so I’m always thinking about money,” Miller says. “I think about other things like humanity, too. But I live in New York City, and I’m constantly like, How is everyone affording things? How is everyone affording life? I don’t think everyone has to talk about their salary all the time, because that information isn't useful to everyone, but it is useful for me as a person who writes cookbooks to share with my colleagues what I got on this deal, or what this magazine paid me to develop recipes.”
She continues: “In terms of mental health, the hospitality industry is pretty brutal. It’s a hard field. You work a lot, and it often doesn’t pay as well as it should. Some people have financially abundant careers in hospitality, but it’s a rough business. The hours are intense, the workplace is sometimes odd or difficult, so I just wanted to know how people take care of themselves, especially Black women.”
For the Culture is a reminder that the histories and contributions of Black women go further back than we might think. It is an homage to our culinary predecessors, a spotlight for our current disruptors, and a rich resource for the next generation of Black women and femmes in the space.
“The world is your oyster,” Miller says. “You can have a vision, and that vision is possible. You can make an imprint on the world through your very specific experience. You can bring that to the world through food.”
For the Culture: Phenomenal Black Women and Femmes in Food: Interviews, Inspiration, and Recipes by Klancy Miller (Harvest, Hardcover)
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hellbullshit · 2 years
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Great Wines Become Part Of Every Great Dish
Among the lots of delights in life is locating a peaceful little restaurant with terrific food and a choice of fine wines. For some, this may mean a neighbourhood eatery with wonderful delicious chocolate desserts huge enough to feed the entire table and also plenty of moving champagne. Others might discover their neighbourhood steakhouse that reduces their very own meat and also chefs it perfectly to requirements every time enjoyed with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon is the response to an incredible dish. And afterwards there are those that prefer a seafood recipe gently prepared as well as come with by their favourite white wine, probably a Riesling or a Chardonnay. Numerous other favourites are around due to the fact that everybody appears to have a various point of view regarding their finest dish experience.
For some, thinking about a dish implies picking a kind of food such as Italian, Mexican, American, Chinese or Indian. Well, think what? Every one of these foods have certain kinds of wine that are customarily served as well as appreciated. It's as easy as taking a seat at a table as well as looking into the menu or wine listing. Typically, the favoured wines are detailed near the top or in a section of wines from the particular nation on which the dining establishment's food is based. As well as if your visiting a specific country it's also much easier. Just ask your waitress for the wines suggested by the restaurant. Normally, the typical wines in supply will certainly be the neighbourhood varieties.
While dining establishment dining is what many people assume of when they desire a nice dinner as well as wine experience, it is absolutely not the only selection available. Some enjoy cooking as well as are extremely proficient at preparing tasty as well as one-of-a-kind dishes. Also for those that prefer not to prepare, nowadays it's very easy to discover mail-order exquisite services that will certainly deliver fantastic meals all set to cook to your front door. Other choices consist of having a personal cook come by your residence to prepare a specialist meal to your specifications. Whatever alternative you select, do not forget to come by your regional wine shop and get an option of great wines to select your wonderful meal.
Something that tends to perplex several beginning or irregular wine enthusiasts is what particular food as well as wine mixes are proper. There are a number of supposed guidelines when it comes to selecting a particular type of wine to drink with a certain meal. As well as to even more complicate things, some wines are better prior to a dish while others are better suited for alcohol consumption after a meal. It can all be so difficult to the novice that they provide up and also purchase a soda as opposed to having to make the dreadful wine choice and show up silly. Basically there are a couple of ways to handle this issue as well as inevitably get over the worry of buying wine.
The very first means to get over the concern of ordering wine is to become informed. Now, obtaining an education in wine will include a long time and also work just like anything you laid out to learn. A good location to begin is the library. Search for books and also publications about wine and obtain to function reading them over. Take a trip over to your regional bookstore to check out the magazine racks initially if you find that your collection has actually limited resources concerning existing wine information. Much of the bigger bookstores have many publication choices regarding virtually any kind of topic of interest and also they must have a number of on the subject of wine. Still one more source of info is the net. Do search on wine and also see what you can discover. With a little time invested, you'll understand a lot regarding the various kinds of wines and also really feel more like a specialist than a beginner quickly. There's more at https://www.winediscoveries.co.uk
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let's talk recovery...and the many ways you can begin to refuel and recharge your body
*the topic of today’s video is recovery. this is from my perspective as a professional dancer and athlete, however, you don’t have to be a professional to gain insight from this post
✨ i ignored recovery for a while and just kept pushing and pushing myself until one day, i literally had nothing left to give. now, i take recovery very seriously. 💖 here are some ideas how you can incorporate recovery into your daily life or however it fits into your routine
keep reading! 👇
higherDOSE
let’s talk about why higherDOSE is an integral part of my recovery process
- the PEMF go-mat: i LOVE this device! this supports improved muscle recovery and makes me feel great after my workouts! the heat adds a relaxing touch. another reason why i love it…it helps me to sleep better. i’m a very bad sleeper so this is a game changer for me!
- the red light face mask - i not only love this mask because it’s helps my skin, but the red light is a total mood booster! one of my struggles as professional athlete is being in a positive mental space. it’s very easy for me to feel like i’m not good enough or i haven’t worked out hard enough. so having devices that help to boost my mood, seriously do so much for me! PLUS…i’m glowing once this mask is done working its magic!
youtube
- sauna blanket (not seen in today’s video) - i usually use my sauna mat on practice days. once my dance practice is over, i’ll spend about 40 mins in the sauna blanket and follow it up with a cold shower. this helps me to detox my body and also boost my mood tremendously!
#recoveryroutine #higherdosedetox #sportswellness @HigherDOSE
#higherDOSEpartner #TheBanannieDiaries #TheBanannieDiariesByAnnie
a wholesome lifestyle and positive relationship with food
what i’m about to tell you will take a commitment to you and your body, but in my opinion it was totally worth it; meal prepping. meal prepping forced me to look at what I was eating and intentionally plan out my meals. this has led me to intake more wholesome foods that are nourishing to my body instead of stopping on-the-go and buying random breakfast sandwiches or fast food.
here’s how i did it…i first began by looking up recipes and seeing if there were healthier versions of foods i tend to be drawn to. for example, my dunkin donut and starbucks breakfast sandwiches are now replaced with breakfast sandwiches i learned how to make. i just take one out of the freezer the evening before, and in the morning i pop it in the air fryer…DONE
by no means am i a trained or chef, baker, or cook. i took some time to watch youtube, do some trial and error, and just figure out what recipes and meals worked for me. here are some websites and social accounts where i gained inspiration for recipes (keep in mind, sometimes i substituted some ingredients based on dietary restrictions, etc.). at the end of the day, you need to do what is right for your body.
want to shop cookbooks? here are some i love 👇
reading books and resting your brain
as a believer in resting your brain, taking a break from social media is not only a suggestion, but absolutely neccessary…(and yes, that’s coming from someone who uses social media as a positive platform). this quote (i did not quote it exactly…sorry…) can apply to A LOT…too much of a good thing isn’t always good.
let’s talk about why I (and many others) suggest taking breaks from social media:
it can be overwhelming and cause your brain to process a lot in short amounts of time
takes you away from the present moment and opportunities that are happening in the here and now
looking at accounts that make you feel less than, sad, or invaluable is going to bother you to a certain extent
taking in too much negative news could bring you into a bad thought process
mean people writing and commenting mean things on your posts or on posts of others can be damaging no matter how strong you feel you are
here are some positive accounts i like to follow:
what can you do instead of scrolling social media? here is my favorite idea…reading books. i’m talking paperback and hardcover books. not a nook, not another electronic device..a good “old-fashioned” book…and yes, an audiobook is also a good idea too! here are some of my current favs!
click the button below to find other social media outlets where the banannie diaries posts content! follow, subscribe, and stay tuned for more beauty, fashion, and positive vibes!
#TheBanannieDiariesByAnniey #fitnessgoals #professionalathlete #workingout #fitnessroutine #athletes #athletesoftiktok #recoverygoals #biohacking #biohackingskincare #redlight #redlightmask #pemftherapy
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat cure, or prevent any disease.
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cartberet8 · 2 years
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The Means To Book A Meals Truck For An Occasion
If you propose to do so, tell them in advance so they can take into consideration what they wish to say. Levente is the top chef, certified and passionate about his occupation. He loves to source one of the best, finest and native elements, making ready the meals with all kinds of herbs and spices, and the precise cooking. We are a younger, dedicated couple, certified and skilled chefs, who convey the traditional cooking strategies and types into our present speeding lifestyle. Be it on a small household gathering, for friends or a road celebration. There are many various methods to add eco-friendly lighting to your decoration and give your venue some style. For each occasion, the proper meals truck is able to pull up and improve the festivities in laid-back fashion. They will inform you of any special necessities associated to meals vehicles. In larger cities, the allow office may be in one other constructing, so factor that into your schedule. 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Simply order your guests’ favorite dishes and have them delivered to your doorstep with our contact free supply. To provide more variety, you possibly can offer several entrée choices on your RSVP card or a dual entrée plate. Instead of worrying in regards to the particular dishes to be served, begin with thinking about the type of meal you want. This choice will influence the construction of the reception and certain the food you select, so it’s an excellent place to begin. As people, we've an innate want to attach with one another and spend time with the people we care about. We have watched the catering and marriage ceremony trade right here in Houston do the rollercoaster over the previous year however our books are almost full with 2022 weddings and bride calling every day. Popular main meals for weddings usually include visually-impressive fantastic eating favorites, such as filet mignon, lobster, rack of lamb and more. Read on for recommendation about how to choose a wedding menu and how to learn about various types of food for marriage ceremony receptions. As you interview wedding ceremony caterers, additionally remember to observe not simply what they’re saying, but how. “It is important to notice responsiveness—how shortly are they returning your call? We select solely prime quality craft beer, curated wines, and premium spirits for our full or restricted bar services. Catering Menu Ideas This is an superior various that turns mini parts of french fries into hors-d'œuvres which are individually dished out. Using this tray makes them mobile and creates a shocking display. The newspaper wrappers are a cute twist too and could be branded to your event or a reprint of a significant day in history. And whenever you rent us, you possibly can rest assured that no one will find yourself going hungry. Contact us to discuss entrees, desserts, and appetizers. If you’ve ever been in charge of meals preparation at a family reunion, you most likely didn't have the possibility to catch up with everyone the way you would have appreciated. You probably additionally heard all the grumbles from individuals who thought they might do a better job than you most likely did. Be certain to let us know of any dietary preferences and we’ll construct them into the menu. Pastas, mushrooms, and potatoes all get a little further oomph whenever you embrace cream primarily based sauces. Get some Fall themed bonus factors with this pumpkin sage cream sauce recipe. There’s a purpose why we love things like candied bacon or tomato soup and grilled cheese. Their deep shade places the focus on the meals and when you heat the stones up, the meals will stay warm on them for a brief time. Just be careful they’re not too hot to be handled. This display just isn't solely colourful it tells us how each color makes us really feel. We have included donut partitions and bagel partitions earlier within the post. If you might be looking for something delicious and pleasing to the attention without the over-the-top sugar binge although, here’s a healthier rendition with a salad wall. Macaroons are fairly darn particular irrespective of how you select to rearrange them however this hanging display with flowers is nearly too pretty to eat. Meals And Beverage What questions do you've about making a high-profit concession menu? Copyright 2022 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. She is an unbiased writer, filmmaker and movement graphics designer primarily based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Brett Lindenberg is the founder of Food Truck Empire and Food Empire Pro. Brett's mission is help to entrepreneurs start and grow profitable meals companies. Since 2014, Brett has interviewed over 100 entrepreneurs on the Food Empire Pro podcast and written hundreds of weblog posts on all features of food enterprise. We function 20 concession stands with quite so much of everyone’s favourite truthful foods. We concentrate on Corndogs utilizing a secret family recipe courting again to the 1950’s. We have a specialty Corndog stand that has our famous Double Bacon Corndog, Sweet Corn Corndogs, and Jalapeno Cheese Corndogs. We additionally service the entire beer and meals sold contained in the Grandstand for concerts. In the world of concession stands, you get to choose what you serve. By specializing in not simply the short, sugary gadgets, but in addition what athletes and households want, you can go beyond the chips, pop, and cavity-inducing snacks that generally fill the snack shop. In the tip, concessions ought to assist the individuals it serves, which in this case, are ones who need more than a 16-ounce Slushie and a Ring Pop. Don’t simply make your concession stand a junk meals stand. By providing wholesome, convenient selections, you’re leaving the choice as a lot as your customers. The Best Garden Get Together Wedding Venues In Eire For Outside Weddings The smartest thing about holidays is that you get to resolve how they're celebrated. You do not have to observe the best way the adults did it whenever you had been a kid! Maybe you don't like pie and need to do something extra enjoyable for dessert, or maybe you want to host Thanksgiving but absolutely hate to cook. To discover some methods you possibly can host Thanksgiving with out ever having to make a single recipe, check out our Thanksgiving Menu. On A Roll Catering is a privately owned firm that focuses on connoisseur delicacies, lovely fruit & cheese and vegetable display pieces, selection, and glorious customer service. From ground plans and table preparations, to lighting and mood, to meals and beverage. There are lots of particulars that go into this day. Was it because you innately wished to do it, or was it because you wished to impress guests? I am a guy, married for ten years, personally concerned in 12 weddings, and been to a minimal of 20 extra. When I’ve seen girls choreographing their first dance or some other outlandish spectacle, you'll find a way to argue till you’re blue within the face, but that was to try to impress the visitors. This list is spot on, if you're attempting to impress somebody. If you really need to do it because you actually want to, go for it. It also provides an oomph of playfulness to an in any other case formal event and it’s a dialog starter, encouraging visitors to interact in new methods and simply come and go as starvation strikes. That stated, that doesn’t mean you have to threat boring guests with limited or unappetizing meals options. In truth, the presentation could make all of the difference. “For instance, as an alternative of serving mac ’n cheese in ramekins, you could deep-fry a bite-size portion and serve it on a lollipop stick,” Brides.com suggests. Catering 外燴 For Every Generation ” just add some classic pommes frites with herb-infused mayonnaise on the aspect. Readymade snacks- One factor lots of folks have come to take pleasure in after working from house for thus long is the endless provide of snacks. Treat your co-workers to the finest snacks all through the day with choices from our hors d’oeuvres menu. With an abundance of mess free finger meals to choose from that will delight the senses, your staff might be so pleased they're back at work. In 2011, we started to return to our German roots and began cooking our household recipes for friends. Everyone loved the food, and that sparked the thought to open Beda’s Biergarten in 2015. We begin by listening to your vision, then work with you to create an occasion that matches your private fashion, price range, and tastes. On your devoted team has something that can nourish their hunger and make them feel appreciated. This is an excellent possibility for informal, low-key events. It is each delicious and enjoyable activity for all guests. Pair it with signature candy tea, a Southern classic. Best Caterer Job Description Template If the venue has a pre-set eating space the catering workers might be required to create a buffer-style setup or arrange the world based on the theme of the event and how friends will be served. In formal setups, caterers arrange the tables and differentiate the sitting space based mostly on the categories or standing of the friends. Another perform of a caterer is that they're required to transport food efficiently to the occasion web site. Certain objects like chilly cuts or salads should remain chilled whereas meats and pasta must be stored sizzling until they are served. Some gadgets need to be ready on-site whereas others have to be prepared prematurely and transported to the venue of the event. Food objects similar to beef sandwiches have to be prepared upfront but they are typically assembled on the occasion. Must be ready to work effectively and have a transparent information of time management. Run daily errands as wanted by supervisors; food deliveries, gear and so forth. and make purchases each time wanted. Manages meals waste program – every day recording of waste level and removal of waste from all kitchen areas. Ensuring all incoming product meets all Bakers’ Best Catering high quality standards. Follows established receiving procedures and is responsible for food storage according to health applicable laws. Ensures there is adequate staffing and assets during catered banquet events. Responsible for sustaining pertinent inventory ranges of clean and sanitary tableware, serving equipment, and different related objects while assuring discount of waste. Responsible for dealing with food hygienically and according to meals preparation tips. Ensured visitors had been snug whereas serving food/drinks in a courteous manner. But each careers additionally use completely different expertise, based on real Caterer resumes.
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pastafossa · 3 years
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Can I ask what you used to learn & practice to write the way you do because a) I'd also like to improve my writing and b) because you are one of the most talented & extraordinary writer I've EVER come across on A03
Thank you so, so much, I'm honored! 😭 I can, absolutely!
So a big thing I used to learn writing is, I read a ton (had way more time for it a few years ago, but that's where a lot of the foundation was). And one of my English professors once told me, 'if you want to write a novel or story, go back and read your favorite books, but read them as a writer and not just as a reader'. And once I did, I understood what she meant. I'd read back over these books I loved, only now I was looking for why I loved them so much (and I still do this some when reading). If something hit me emotionally hard, why? Was it the body language? Their emphasis on description? If they set up an elaborate, 'SURPRISE!', how was it done? How did they lay clues? How did the author write this out? It helps a ton to look at the structural framework of something you love, and so one of the things you can easily use, that I used, is literally just your favorite books. My favorite series is Dresden Files, for example, and that's where I learned a lot about how one can write internal dialogue, action scenes, and laying clues. I also try to read books by popular authors (that I enjoy, don't get me wrong) so I can look at their techniques and hunt down new things to try. <3
Second, I'm going to rec one of my favorite books that helped me with learning to write emotions (which anyone who's read TRT knows I focus on fairly regularly). I literally always write with this nearby: The Emotion Thesaurus. The 1st edition I have has 75 emotions, and each has a connected list of physical body language signals, internal sensations, mental responses, cues of acute or long-term feeling of that emotion, and cues of suppression of that emotion. The 2nd edition now has 130 emotions (haven't had a chance to look through that one yet). That book helped teach me about linking emotion to sensory descriptions - physical, mental, internal, and then with time or suppression.
Third: if anywhere near you or online has a free class on creative writing and you have the time, I'd give it a shot! I took a fair amount of English classes in college, admittedly, but even once I was done, I kept an eye out and I've managed to get into some free or cheap classes. Some are pretty terrible, a lot are just middle of the road, and then every once in a while you get an amazing one where you hear hysterical gems like, "your job as an author is to cause pain. Embrace it! You're a sadist now," and then you learn how to torment characters with unique acts of suffering. So there's always something to learn, even in the terrible classes (it's sometimes just, 'don't do this one thing').
Writers Groups! I have had some very kind and very honest writers groups over the years that have helped me learn where my weaknesses were as a writer. One of my biggest issues used to be overdescription of everything (I wish I was joking, RIP to my early readers), and I didn't even realize it was a problem until I joined a writers group and they pointed out that things were a bit unnecessarily wordy.
Grammarly is something I use for every chapter. I generally edit my chapter, paste it into Grammarly, and then it hits me with a newspaper points out politely where I can take out some unnecessary commas. Grammarly reminds me not to get cocky. Grammarly humbles us all.
Those have been my biggest resources on learning over the years: published books I loved, books like The Emotion Thesaurus, taking writing classes whenever I could, writers groups, and Grammarly. I try to consider myself a constant student, always learning! After that, it's just practice-practice-practice. Pastafossa is, I think my third pseudonym over ohgodtoomanyyears of writing fanfic and original stories on and off. In the beginning, my fanfiction was terrible (seriously, I found some the other day on an old hard drive and, good god 😂). I've tried my hand at one-shots, parody (I wrote a bad smut fic for Dragon Age a while back and LORD that was wild), humor, prompt challenges. Try everything! Some of it will fail miserably, but much like the terrible writing classes, at least you learn something, and then you use that for next time. ❤️
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windvexer · 2 years
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Practical Magic Tech: Spellcasting Altars Are a Powerful Tool For Sticky Situations
This post is part of a series of animistic, spirit-oriented spellcasting for beginners. Go to the masterpost to see them all.
In this other post, I was talking about two ways to think about spellwork: continuous magic, or one-shot magic. But our goal in this series is not to learn how to just cast single spells like a cook reading out of a recipe book. Our goal is to learn how to be a chef that can manage a kitchen and its staff.
So, real talk: Very often, aspects of our lives are not going to be solved with one spell.
Yes, it's really good to be able to cast a spell and have it manifest. But, more real talk: Getting spells to do something is actually pretty easy.
The real problem with practical spellwork doesn't lie in getting together some magic and causing stuff to happen. The real problem is situations resolving in the way you want, especially complex situations that are resistant to change or that require a lot of change.
In this other post, I talked about the virtue of a general spellcasting altar; one that you use to handle most any spell you need to sling.
In this post, let's talk about specific spellcasting altars, built to address one area of your life, or one important situation, that requires close monitoring and regular, active spellwork.
An Altar With a Goal
When I build a general spellcasting altar, I align it towards my method of spellcasting in general. I might invite a god or goddess of witchcraft to oversee the altar. I will probably store my tools and components near there that I use for spellcasting. It might be my good-vibes spiritual center that reflects my current path and progress.
In contrast, I build goal-oriented altars to very specifically reflect their purpose:
An altar to assist me in divinatory power might be dressed in indigo, silver, and violet; have figurines of mermaids or ravens, be decorated with mirrors, stuffed with amethyst, and drizzled with wormwood.
An altar to aid my finances and prosperity might be covered in green and gold, have stacks of fake money and dragon figurines, jars of coins, nuggets of jade, lodestone weighing down paper money, and just loads of chamomile and basil as far as the eye can see.
An altar to assist with bringing peace to my home might be decorated in soothing pale blue and white, filled with plates of cream and honey, decorated with a figurine of Hestia or Eirene, and sprinkled with aquamarine and blue chalcedony.
Most importantly for me, any such altar has space to hold one-shot and continuous spells as they work unto my needs. This may be in the form of a digital altar where spell cards are stored, or in a physical surface or container where components are held.
Goal-Oriented Altars Can be Like Hyperspells with Many Intents
I support limited, focused intent for individual spells. This means that any single situation may require a variety of spells to be cast upon it to achieve my goals.
Suppose I want to bring peace to my household. Depending on what's going on, I might need to cast a few different spells:
Reducing arguments
Increasing loving communication
Reducing feelings of anger
Increasing feelings of wellbeing
Keeping an instigator away from the home
Drawing enjoyable, healthy experiences into the home
If I build and consecrate an altar unto the purpose of peace in my home, that altar becomes like a hyperspell slowly storing and building up all these intents, until my purpose is finally achieved.
Certainly, one single spell might do - but we don't need to build altars for situations easily resolved with one spell. If your situation is being resistant to spellwork, or it's something you know will need ongoing maintenance, consider an altar instead of a series of independent spells.
Using Goal-Oriented Altars
Remember at the beginning of the post, when I was saying the real challenge to practical spellwork is resolving complex situations to your satisfaction?
Your situational altar is the command center for addressing a sticky, tough-to-manage situation.
Perform divination about this situation nearby
Store one-shot and continuous spells effecting that situation on this altar
Keep a detailed record of what you've tried so far
Use this altar as a platform for hosting complementary, simultaneously cast spells
Light candles or incense on the altar, or feed it with direct energy work, to charge all spells stored within it
As you continuously store spells and magics related to your situation in this one altar space, it will accumulate and gain power. That power will become more nuanced and more finely honed to your purposes with each spell you store in it.
With enough active focus and work, this altar will become a source of power in and of itself. Each successive spell will coast on the crest of the one before it, and amazing progress can be made in ways not as easily seen with spells individually and stored outside of an altar's nexus.
The types of spells you cast should be specially chosen based on how you need the energy to move in the situation.
A major benefit of a goal-oriented altar is that it lets you see your current, ongoing efforts - and past, completed efforts - all in one place. You can walk by your prosperity altar and see that your debt-banishing candle is nearly burned away, you have a whole pile of incense ashes for your cash-drawing petitions, and that you've already given the spirits an offering today. In a real way, it carves out space in your life to give important issues the attention you want to give them.
This also gives you a chance to consider the types of spells you're using and whether you need more or less variety, or more or less effort applied to a specific end.
Maybe the problem with your situation is a specific blockage that won't be overcome by more conjuration type spells; maybe you need a banishment-type spell to bust open the way forward.
The post that details that isn't in the queue yet, so if you don't see something like "spell categories #2" in the masterpost, remind me to write it. There's a ton of information to get down and sometimes stuff gets lost in the stampede.
Setting Up A Goal-Oriented Altar
Set up a goal-oriented altar with any methods used to consecrate a spellcasting altar (methods will be in the masterpost... if you're far enough into the future).
Keep a goal-oriented altar as long as you need it. For some people, altars for prosperity or protection might be kept indefinitely, as these issues are often ongoing for most.
Other altars might be extremely specific, like "help me get into a new housing situation with room mates I gel with," and will be relatively short term.
Take down the altar when you're done with it. It's not like you have to, keep that bad boy for as long as you want. But you don't need to keep the altar up once your purpose has been served.
This post is part of a series of animistic, spirit-oriented spellcasting for beginners. Go to the masterpost to see them all.
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Check Me Out
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Genre: Romance, Fluff
Characters: Reader x Kyungsoo
Summary: You find yourself attracted to Kyungsoo, a regular at the library where you work. Will love blossom between the shelves?
A/N: Anyone else feel like Kyungsoo just fits in a library? I just picture him going to libraries, enjoying the silence, and sitting for hours reading books about cooking. Apologies in advance, I’ve been in a very punny mood lately :) As a newer writer, any feedback is greatly appreciated!
*Note: picture is not owned by me, credit to original owner(s)*
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Tick, tick, tick, tick tick
For what seems like the millionth time today, you turn to see if the clock hands have changed position at all since the last time you checked 1:33 PM, the hands read. Has it really only been three minutes since you last checked the clock? Thursday afternoons tend to be pretty quiet at the library where you work, with mostly just regulars wandering in to take their usual spots, like the little old ladies crocheting in the plush seats by the window, the mothers in the children’s section reading picture books to their toddlers, or the job seekers perfecting their resumes on the library computers.
And in exactly 27 minutes, there will also be him. Do Kyungsoo. You’d met Kyungsoo about three months ago when he’d wandered into the library looking to check out a particular Gordon Ramsey cookbook. He was beautiful, there was really no other way to describe him. Fluffy black hair, big brown eyes, lush-looking lips, and a dark pair of glasses that gave him a serious aura that you found absolutely alluring. His rich, deep voice gave you chills. In your deepest fantasies, you wonder what it would be like to hear that honeyed voice whispering in your ear at night—-
Your Kyungsoo-fueled reverie is interrupted by a patron requesting your help to find a book that wasn’t where the catalog said it should be. After locating the book, which had been mistakenly shelved in the fiction section, you attempt to distract yourself with other tasks to keep yourself from focusing back on the time once again. You enter the remaining book returns into the system and pull the cart towards the shelves to begin putting the books back into their rightful spots. You fall into a well-known rhythm as you move from shelf to shelf. You stop for a brief moment, to run your fingers down the cover of a just-returned copy of Pride and Prejudice, your favorite book. You quickly flip through the book to find your favorite scene, the one at the ball where Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth first meet and their romance begins. As you take your time scanning over the familiar words, you are startled by the sound of a throat being cleared and a deep voice saying your name.
“Y/N”.
You close your eyes and bask in the sound of your name rolling off his lips, your ears perking up to take in any other sound his lips might utter. Butterflies’ wings beat at the inside of your stomach and the air takes on the same hyper-electric feel that it always does when in his presence. You feel a soft tap on your shoulder and you turn to see Kyungsoo very much in your space.
“Y/N”, he tries again, “I didn’t see you at the circulation desk when I came in and I was wondering if you were here today.” He smiles, his cheeks puffing up in such a way that makes you want to reach out and gently pinch them between your fingers. In his hands he’s holding another cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1 by Julia Child.
“Taking a trip to France, now I see. That’s a bit of a departure from the Japanese cookbook you checked out last week, “ you joke. Kyungsoo was an avid amateaur chef who loved to learn how to make anything and everything. Last week, he’d come in for a book about the art of sushi-making, the week before that it was an Italian cookbook claiming to have the best recipe for spaghetti bolognese within its pages.
“It definitely is,” Kyungsoo laughed, “It’s a lot of fun to know how to cook many different types of food.” Kyungsoo took out his phone and motioned you over as he flipped through picture after picture of sushi rolls that looked pretty impressive in your humble opinion.
As you peer over his shoulder, you are hit with the smell of Kyungsoo’s cologne, a mild and clean scent that isn’t too overpowering. Perfect for Kyungsoo. You take in another quiet breath, enjoying this closeness, this silence. Abruptly, you realize that Kyungsoo is no longer talking. You glance up to see Kyungsoo’s eyes trained on your face, lips parted, as though he’d lost his train of thought mid-sentence. The seconds tick by, neither of you moving to break eye contact or move out of each other’s space. Kyungsoo’s hand slowly moves to brush your hair behind your ear, then sliding down to gently stroke your chin. You feel hypersensitive, the impression of Kyungsoo’s touch on your skin is magnified and the smell of his cologne overwhelms your senses. He starts to gently pull your face towards his own….
Ring, ring, ring, ring
The sound of the phone at the circulation desk, causes both of you to jump, breaking the spell you both were under. In a daze, you move rotely towards the desk to answer the phone, leaving Kyungsoo between the bookshelves, hidden from sight. By the time you finished assisting the patron on the phone with an interlibrary transfer request, you’d managed to get your bearings straight.
Professionalism in the workplace. Professional in the workplace. Professionalism in the workplace…, you chant to yourself, feeling heat on the back of your neck at the thought of almost kissing a patron while on the clock. Granted, there was nothing against seeing patrons outside of work, this wasn’t a medical profession, after all. But you had a sneaking suspicion that your boss might frown upon romantic frolicking whilst on the job. You sneak a glance towards the spot where you left Kyungsoo, but he’s nowhere in sight.
Did he leave? Was he hiding? Had he sunk through the floor, never to be seen or heard from again? You don’t know, but you are suddenly very interested in rearranging the small jars of paperclips, tacks, and binder clips on your desk. In the midst of your mini-redecoration, you hear the *thunk* of books being plopped down, ready for checkout. You turn around to see Kyungsoo standing in front of you, cool as a cucumber, with two books in-hand. Looking at him now, it’s hard to imagine that not 10 minutes ago, his face had been six inches from your face, his lips six inches from your lips. You keep your eyes focused on your task as you scan Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. 1. You move to scan the second book, The Beginner’s Guide teo Cheesemaking at Home, but Kyungsoo stops you.
“I’ll just take this one, the second one’s for you, there’s something interesting in there that I think you might like”. Kyungsoo gives you an enigmatic smile as he slings the cookbook under his arm, grabs the receipt, and makes his way out the door.
You look down at the book in your hand, confused. A near-kiss and he leaves you with a book on making cheese at home? Curious, you move to speed-flip through the book. As the pages go by, your eyes catch a sliver of yellow. You turn back to that page to find a recipe for making gouda cheese. Just below the recipe you see a yellow post it note that reads:
We go really “gouda” together. I’m very “fondue” of you. This might sound “cheesy”, but I’d love to get to know you “chedda”.
Just below his lines of “cheesy” puns, he’d listed a phone number. You get out your phone and quickly add his number to your contacts. You type up a message and hit the send button before you have time to rethink your decisions.
That was a little cheesy, but still grate. Coffee tomorrow? You watch as the little dots appear, signaling Kyungsoo’s imminent response.
*bing*
Yes, that would brie great! ;)
~~~~~~~~The End~~~~~~~~~~
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aiweirdness · 4 years
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AI + Vintage American cooking: a combination that cannot be unseen
A week ago, in a sudden fit of terrible judgement, I decided to find out what would happen if I:
Asked people to help me collect examples of the worst, the weirdest, the most gelatinous recipes that vintage American cooking has to offer, then
Trained a neural net to imitate them
People submitted over 800 recipes in all, including such recipes as:
“Beef Fudge” (contains marshmallow, chocolate chips, and ground beef),
“Circus Peanut Jello Salad” (also contains crushed pineapple and kool-whip), and
“Tropical Fruit Soup” (contains banana, grapes, and a can of cream of chicken soup)
“Lemon Lime Salad” (also contains cottage cheese, mayonnaise, and horseradish)
As I watched this dataset coalesce, much as one might watch a speeding dumpster begin to spin out of control, I began to approach the state I dreaded: all the recipes began to seem normal.
Shrimp + grapefruit + lemon jello? Citrus seafood is a thing.
Chili sauce + lemon jello + cottage cheese + mayo? Well it's not SWEETENED jello, so
I began to wonder if I would actually be able to tell the difference between the neural net recipes and the real thing. Jello was supposed to be easy-to-prepare, after all - maybe through repetition an advanced neural net like GPT-2 would learn how to make basic jello, and then anything it would decide to chuck in there would be technically reasonable. Maybe it would even coalesce on an ideal form, one that distilled human invention down to its essentials.
No, as it turns out. Here’s a neural net recipe.
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It does cocktails, too.
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The training data contained a lot of things. It contained eel only once. For some reason the AI has decided to use eel a LOT.
It also invents ingredients.
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Some of the neural net recipes bear at least some resemblance to the human versions, but manage to mess them up profoundly. Without a sense that the recipe directions are describing ingredients and things that happen to them, the neural net never gets the hang of jello - that you need hot water to make it gel, that it doesn’t go in the oven. It also forgets to add all of its ingredients, or introduces some that were never mentioned before. This is partly because its memory is terrible, and partly because it doesn’t know what’s important.
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I couldn’t find a setting at which the neural net recipes could consistently pass for human. Set the chaos levels too low and the neural net would repeat the same few recipes, forgetting a different key step or ingredient each time. Set the chaos levels too high and the neural net would get ever more inventive, producing recipes that promised creamy lime and called for golf balls or elk hide, or directed the chef to remove the lamb’s giblets.
Some of its recipes were beyond bizarre.
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Remember that today's AI is much closer in brainpower to an earthworm than to a human. It can pattern-match but doesn't understand what it's doing. Commercial AI is not significantly smarter than this recipe AI. Humans have just hopefully done a better job of preventing it from making oblivious mistakes.
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It got to the point where I would see a recipe like this and be excited and proud of the neural net. Then I would realize just how very low my standards had fallen.
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One thing the neural net has learned from humans is that it's good to include a story with your recipe.
It is bad at this.
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The neural net puts lots of words in its recipes that were never in the jello-centric training data. It’s drawing from its initial general training on internet text. It read a LOT of fanfic on the internet during its initial general training, and still remembers it now. Except now all its stories center around food.
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It’s trying. It’s startlingly bad. It wants us to remove the internal rinds twice. AI’s not ready to take over the world - it can’t even figure out the kitchen.
Subscribers get bonus content: More jello-centric neural net recipes, including some that were too long to post here. Be especially afraid of the ones that aren’t exactly “recipes”.
My book on AI is out, and, you can now get it any of these several ways! Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Indiebound - Tattered Cover - Powell’s
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archonanqi · 3 years
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fragile as dust / 8 - the eleventh
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ch 8 | the eleventh
The rest of the day you spend running your fingers across the rows and rows of bound leather, taking inventory of all the words and knowledge and stories that were now at your fingertips — scurrying between the library and your room, arms full of books that caught your eye. 
Zhongli watched you from his seat in the living room each time you passed, offering comments on various books that you had picked out. He seemed especially amused each time you ran past with a book regaling a legend of the Lord of Geo, though you couldn’t think of a reason why. By the time the sun had set, every surface of your room had been touched by a book or two. 
You couldn’t wait to get started, already knew which ones you wanted to read first — there was one that promised the thrilling tale of Rex Lapis’ fight against the Beast of Nian that you were itching to devour. But before anything else, there was something you had to do, something you’d been planning as soon as you’d seen the “The Fine Art of Liyue Cuisine” title on the bookshelves. 
Zhongli had been kind — beyond that, really — about your situation, but you hadn’t forgotten that you were meant to be here for his convenience. You had done nothing but cause him trouble so far, and it was your duty to make up for the expenses you’d cost him. 
(Though really, and though you would never admit it, you couldn’t deny that on some very faint level, you wanted to hear praise, your name, anything come out in that rich, deep voice of his.)
So the next time Zhongli took his walk at Yujing Terrace, you reluctantly and politely declined his invitation. Minutes after his departure, you snuck out of the door, running as fast as you could towards the northern harbor. The recipe for the pen’cai stew had called for fish, but, as you grabbed handfuls of squid from the nearest unattended stall, you decided that seafood would have to do. Seafood was something that refined nobles like Zhongli ate, after all.
The tentacles felt disgusting in your pocket the entire way home, but it was fine. You could bear it for Zhongli. You couldn’t wait to imagine his surprise and delight.
Still, how odd that of all the ingredients, seafood was the only one you couldn’t find in Zhongli’s well-stocked refrigerator! 
When you got home, you breathed a sigh of relief that Zhongli had not come home yet; you didn’t know what you would have said if he had caught you with a pocket full of squid. After changing, you cracked the recipe book open, staring at it. You’d chosen this recipe because its description had stated “ no refinement is needed for this dish ”, but still, some of these terms flew right over your head. What the fuck was a “julienne”?
Zhongli had used the stove several times, mostly to heat up leftovers from the abysmal amount of food he frequently bought, and it hadn’t seemed too hard at all for him. You would learn, just as you always did. 
---
By the time Zhongli returned home, smoke was still billowing from the windows. 
---
It was all a bit of a haze for you. The oil had started producing bright sparks (in your defense, how were you supposed to make sense of “ Heat Oil Until Hot ”??), and you knew enough about cooking at least to know that that wasn’t good. 
You also thought you knew enough about cooking to know that embers had to be put out by water. The resulting bang had sent you rolling to the floor, and when you’d gotten back up, the curtains by the stove were ablaze
When Zhongli found you, you were frozen in fear — you had backup plans for if the food burnt, but this… this went a little past that. 
From behind you, you heard a loud whoosh, felt the force of the earth knock into you. The room became enveloped briefly in a golden glow, and as you watched, the fire faded into embers, then smoke. A single glowing, red gem clattered to the ground, before dissipating with a loud hiss.
“H-how?” Was the first word out of your lips. 
“When Geo reacts with—“ Zhongli shook his head, cutting his explanation short for the first time you’d heard, “never mind that. Are you alright? Can you move?”
You let him lead you outside, numbly, silently. Finally, out in the fresh morning air, he peered down at you. You searched his face for anger, but found only mild curiosity. “Now,” Zhongli said, sitting on the grass by your side, ”would you like to tell me what happened in there?”
The weight of what you’d done hit you like an angry boar. Treacherous tears gathering behind your eyes, you whispered “I’m so sorry,” barely able to get the apologies out fast enough. “I— I thought I would surprise you with breakfast, but— but the oil and the water...“ You trailed off when he raised his hand to cover his mouth — out of anger? No, there was a smile on his face. A smile!
“My my,” he mused, the smallest of smiles playing on his face. “Truly, you are a child of Liyue. Always trying new things, rushing in headstrong.” Zhongli shook his head wistfully. “It reminds me of myself, many years ago.”
“You?” You asked in disbelief, feeling your eyes widen. You hadn’t once seen him with so much a button out of place on his intricate coat; weren’t convinced he hadn’t come out of the womb drinking pu’er tea and writing poetry. “ You’ve set things on fire before, Mr. Zhongli?”
“More times than I can count,” his smile widened, and you felt like you had learned a secret of the Gods themselves. “But as I learned, so must you: you can always ask for help, Hansi.”
Suddenly, it didn’t feel like he was talking about cooking anymore. As always, his words were so slow, so deliberate that you scoured them for a hidden meaning. If you didn’t know better, you would be deathly sure that he knew of your difficulties with the Vision. And right now, sitting on the grass next to you after you had almost burned down his home, Zhongli had never felt more approachable. Maybe you could tell him, after all.
Starting a fire was one thing , you chided yourself. Lying about possessing the power of one of the Seven Archons is another.
“I will keep that in mind, Mr. Zhongli.” You said, instead, bowing your head a little. “Thank you for… not being mad.”
“It is I who should be thanking you for your thoughtfulness. And what is it that you were trying to cook for me, my dear?”
You almost jumped at that, feeling warm color blossoming within your cheeks. He probably called everyone that — he was so traditional, after all. “Seafood stew, Mr. Zhongli.” 
Finally, to your utter confusion, Zhongli’s smile bloomed into a rich laugh. “Then I’m very sorry I missed it,” he chuckled. “Are culinary skills something you would like to learn, Hansi?” 
“Yes,” you said, frustration and indignance culminating into determination. There wasn’t one thing you hadn’t been able to learn when you’d put your heart to it — reading, stealing, surviving. Well, except... “Please, teach me.”
“You deserve a far better teacher than I,” Zhongli said, standing up and dusting his coat off, before offering you his hand. “Let’s pay Wanmin Restaurant a visit, shall we?” Then, wrinkling his nose, “though perhaps... After we rid the house of any more fire hazards.”
---
At the counter of Wanmin Restaurant was a man you had never seen before, though his resemblance to Xiangling was striking. He perked up immediately upon seeing you and Zhongli approach.
“Mr. Zhongli!” He waved frantically. “Thank you for the medicine! My knee feels better already.”
“I’m glad, Chef Mao. I’ve heard that Bubu Pharmacy’s herbal cures are nothing short of divine miracles,” Zhongli said. “Though I hear from Xiangling that you’ve been gathering herbs near Jueyun Karst? You must know that it is extremely dangerous for humans to enter.”
“Of course, of course!” Chef Mao laughed good-naturedly. “You don’t have to warn me twice. I make sure to give that place a good berth —  I don’t have enough lives to go around meeting any Adepti. Now, what brings you here today? Xiangling or I will cook anything you’re in the mood for.”
Zhongli shook his head gently. “I’ll have to take you up on that offer some other time. Today, I was hoping to ask Xiangling for some culinary tutelage. This young lady here is looking to learn how to cook.”
“Oh!” Chef Mao peered at you, as though he had just noticed you. Of course, it hadn’t helped that you were trying to hide behind Zhongli the whole time. He turned around and yelled into the kitchen, “XIANGLING! COME HERE, MR. ZHONGLI AND HIS—“ 
A pause, as he glanced between you and Zhongli, trying to ascertain your relationship.
“Friend,” Zhongli supplied. You hated that your heart skipped a beat.
“—FRIEND ARE HERE TO SEE YOU!”
Almost immediately, Xiangling’s head popped out from behind the window, waving and beaming dazzlingly. As Zhongli explained the situation to her, you once again wondered where she was storing her endless cheer. Perhaps in her hairbuns. 
“I hope that it is not too much trouble,” Zhongli concluded, crossing his arms over his chest and stepping aside. You wanted to scream at the thought that he knew you’d been trying to hide behind him.
“Nonsense!” Chef Mao slapped his hands together, and you were beginning to see where Xiangling got her enthusiasm from. “If not for you getting Wanmin Restaurant this spot on Chihu Rock, why, Rex Lapis would never have found us and written such flattering poetry about our food. Then where would we be? No favor is too big for you, my friend, let alone something so trivial as this.” 
You glanced up at Zhongli, but his expression did not change. Just exactly how much influence did Zhongli have over the city? 
Just who was he? 
“Would Miss Hansi want to work as my apprentice for a few weeks?” Xiangling asked, thoughtfully. “With the winter coming up soon, we’re going to need a lot of ingredients, so I could use an extra hand. We can’t pay very much, maybe 1,000 Mora a week, but I’ll keep you nice and full, I promise!”
A thousand Mora — that was more than you had ever had at once in your life. You jumped to say yes, but stopped yourself just in time. It wasn’t up to you. For all Zhongli’s benevolence, what nobleman would want a servant (is that what you even were?) that they'd paid for gone all day? 
You looked to Zhongli for his answer. And when he only waited patiently, you prompted, “may I accept this offer, Mr. Zhongli?”
“You are free to do as you please, Hansi.” Zhongli said, and the surprise didn’t sting as much as it used to. “I think it would be a great opportunity.”
You had never been more sure of the following “yes!” that you almost shouted at Xiangling.
Chef Mao laughed. “We’ll see how much of that enthusiasm you can keep when Xiangling starts working you to the bone!” He waved at Zhongli. “Xiangling and I will show her around the restaurant. You should get back to your work, Mr. Zhongli — you must be a very busy man.”
Zhongli raised a brow, but did not comment further. “Will you be able to find your way back home, Hansi?”
After getting your affirmation, Zhongli nodded and walked away. You would have watched him leave, if you could, studying every detail on the back of his coat — but Xiangling grabbed your hand.
“Come on!” She was almost vibrating from excitement, and you couldn’t help but match her grin with your own. “There’s SO much I need to show you!”
---
By the time Xiangling released you from your duties for the day (and you had learned more words than you thought existed), the city had grown dark.
It had been so exciting, the prospect of having a real, actual job that you didn’t have much else on your mind. And so your first mistake, you realized too late, was trying to find the same shortcuts that Zhongli had used to get home. The alleyways at night were strangers to you  — and there was good reason for it.
You thought it was your imagination at first, but it became more apparent with every crawling second: there was another pair of footsteps that echoed each of your own. You quickened your pace, noticing the echo match yours almost perfectly. As you turned down deeper between the buildings, you forced your foot to stop halfway to the ground.
The echoing footstep clacked against the cobblestone. 
There was a flurry of movement behind you, your pursuer realizing that their cover had been blown. The figure lunged at you, and you ducked at the last second— you were used to bigger men throwing their bodies at you, had long since learned how to use their weight against them. With all your strength, you aimed a kick at the man’s groin—
Only for him to catch your ankle with one of his gloved hands, yanking you off your feet, and throwing you against the wall. The impact knocks all the air from your lungs. You scrambled to get back to your feet, coughing. Instinctively, you reached for your chest, where your Vision once was. It wasn’t there. Of course. And even if it was, what good would it be?
“Feisty,” the man remarked, leaning in to peer at you. In the dim moonlight, you could see a strange red mask hanging his cheek, stark against his auburn hair. At his hip, a Vision glowed royal blue, with a frame that you had never seen before. “What on Teyvat has Zhongli gotten himself into?”
---
“Who are you?” You snapped. The man kept his careful distance from you, but you were sure that he would be able to catch you in seconds if you ran. The way he had moved to meet your blow was practiced, skilled, even. It seemed that you had misjudged his intentions — he was not some drunken man seeking pleasure. “Are you from Bawang ?”
“Ba—what?” The man shook his head, clutching his heart in a dramatic show of dismay. “I’m hurt. Didn’t Mr. Zhongli not tell you about me? Not even a passing mention?”
Eyeing him carefully, you racked your brains. Was he a friend of Zhongli’s? Surely no associate of Zhongli would corner you in an alley at night and push you over... Right? You were realizing how little (absolutely nothing, to be exact), you knew about Zhongli’s life. 
 “Was the ‘who are you?’ not enough of a clue?”
The man grinned wickedly in the night, eyes glinting at your mockery. “What a tongue you have on you. Didn’t know that was Zhongli’s type.” He offered his hand to you. “I’m Tartaglia, codename Childe. Pleased to meet you.”
You stared at his hand like you would a can of live worms. “The one from the Fatui.”
The message received, he let his hand fall back to his side. “So he has talked about me. And here I was, thinking that he saw me as just a puppet.” He mused. You had no clue what he was talking about, but it was immediately clear that the man was dangerous. 
“Are you here to collect his debt? I don’t have any money.” 
“Debt?” Tartaglia laughed. “No, there’s no debt . Mr. Zhongli has unlimited access to the Northland Bank’s funds. Yeah,” he clarified, mistaking your shock for confusion. “Turns out, you need to read the fine print when it comes to making deals with the guy.”
“Then what do you want from me?” 
“Oh, come now,” he raised his palms in a placating manner, “don’t be so harsh. I’m only here to investigate. Zhongli has been buying enough food for a small army, and while it’s not entirely unusual of him, he also made a large payment to a certain company... that let’s just say even the Fatui won’t touch with a six-foot pole.” Tartaglia swept his glance over you from head to toe. “But you already know that, don’t you?”
You stayed silent, wishing to the Archons that looks could kill.
“I don’t know why he… acquired you, but believe me, he’s always got some kind of plan going on in that head of his.” Tartaglia sighed. “Anyway, where’s your Vision? 
You stiffened. “Vision?” You scoffed. The false disbelief came easily, naturally. “You think the Archons would give someone so pathetic a Vision?” 
“You can cut the crap. I saw the way you reached for it there. I’ve seen that look way too many times. Vision-holders who get too dependent, who think that having one makes them invincible.” Tartaglia’s lip curled. “A Vision wouldn’t have saved you from me, girlie. But someone as weak as you should at least be carrying it around.”
Every moment of the day, you thought of it, of how all your problems would be solved if — when — you mastered the power of the Archons. The thought that it wouldn’t, that knowing how to use a Vision wouldn’t make you invincible to the world, was devastating.
Before you, Tartaglia’s eyes were the color of the ocean during monsoon seasons, deep, roiling, devastating. You couldn’t seem to bring yourself to lie again, so you lowered your head.
“That’s what I thought. What element?”
“Geo,” you said quietly. The only thing you could do here was keep him talking, long enough until you could find a chance to escape. From what you could tell, he didn’t seem to be on too-friendly terms with Zhongli. Perhaps he wouldn’t tell him, after all. 
“Of course.” He nodded, as though there was no other answer.
“What do you mean, of course?” 
“ What I mean is —“ Tartaglia peered at you, raising a single brow. “Hmm. What does Zhongli think of your Vision?”
You bit your lip to stop from responding. This was dangerous territory. As the seconds dragged on in silence, you watched a glimmer of glee creep into Tartaglia’s eyes. “Oh! Oh my Archon. You haven’t told him!” The Fatui Harbinger threw back his head and laughed with abandon. “Oh, that’s great! This is beautiful!”
You waited a good half minute for Tartaglia to finally wipe all the tears from his cheeks. “Are you done?” You’d been slowly edging towards the exit of the alley, keeping your eyes trained on the Fatui. As long as you could get to Wanmin Restaurant you would be safe... but no. You couldn’t drag Xiangling and Chef Mao into this. You still didn’t understand half the things Tartaglia had said, but you knew that the Fatui’s attention wasn’t something you wanted, no matter who you were.
“Yes, yes,” Tartaglia huffed, fanning himself dramatically.
“What’s so funny?”
“My contract ,” he almost spat the word, “mandates that I stay silent about that one, sorry.  But don’t worry, I’ll keep your little secret. I’d love to see the look on your face when... Anyway. I’m here to give you an offer.”
“Next time, try offering over lunch or something,” you didn’t know where you found the courage to snap, “instead of in an alley.” 
“Sorry, sorry,” Tartaglia threw his hands up, somewhat apologetically. “It’s been so hard to catch you alone.” Had he been watching you and Zhongli? You grimaced. “But anyway. How would you like… all the Mora you could ever need? Anything you want to buy, eat or wear, yours, just like that.” He snapped his fingers. 
“…And what do you want from me?”
“Information,” he replied, “about Zhongli. How to fight him, really, but also anything else he—“ 
At this point, you were beginning to feel inclined to believe that the man was simply missing half his marbles. Finally feeling like you had put enough distance between him and yourself, you turned and ran — for a whole two seconds, when a strong force yanked you backwards. 
“Hey now, hasn’t Mr. Zhongli taught you anything about manners?” He tutted as you flailed in his grip, “I wasn’t done talking— whoa!”
He ducked, barely avoiding a projectile that whizzed past his cheek, so close that you could hear it whistle through the air. You peer at where it landed, firmly embedded into the brick wall. 
It was a golden spear that glowed dimly in the light. Its design was immaculate, intricate, beautiful , you thought numbly, as you watched it fade before your eyes. 
“Well then,” Tartaglia said tightly, “never mind  her manners. It’s not like you to get so worked up, Mr. Zhongli.”
You snapped your head towards the entrance of the alleyway. You’d recognize the silhouette anywhere, but in that moment, with the same spear gripped in his hand and his features edged silver under the moonlight, eyes glowing a ravenous gold, Zhongli looked particularly divine.
“If I were worked up , Childe, I would not have missed,” Zhongli said, twirling the spear once before setting the pole against the cobblestone. The way he moved -- natural, relaxed, as though the polearm seemed like an extension of his body. There was no anger in his voice, but you felt a slight tremor in the ground under your feet and, despite your situation, a jolt of excitement at the thought of seeing Zhongli fight, seeing a Geo Vision in use. 
“Oho?” Childe let go of your sleeve, crouching down low as glowing blue energy gathered in his hands. “Sure sounds like you’re asking for a fight. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this!” 
Zhongli regarded him coolly for a moment. “Look around you. Is this really where you want to fight me, Childe?” He raised his head, and you and Tartaglia followed his gaze to a window. Behind the glass, you could make out a young girl’s face as she stared wide-eyed down at the scene below. 
To your surprise, the Fatui paused. You hadn’t marked him down as the type to worry about collateral damage. Finally, he shifted back into a more relaxed stance, waving his fingers clean of Hydro. “You know me a little too well, Mr. Zhongli,” he smiled, all hostility seemingly forgotten. You may have misjudged his empathy, but you certainly hadn’t imagined his unhinged nature. 
“What business do you have with Hansi?” Zhongli asked.
“That’s our little secret. Well, I’ll leave you two to… whatever it is you do.” He winked. “Remember, you still owe me a dinner sometime, Mr. Zhongli.”
“Certainly,” Zhongli said, lowering his hand and letting his spear disintegrate from between his fingers. “Though I must warn you, it will be the Northland Bank bearing the bill.” 
“Of course.” Childe chuckled one more time, as though he remembered something funny. “See you around, Hansi.”
---
On the way home, Zhongli was uncharacteristically quiet. As you entered the warmth of his — of your home, you tried to break the silence. “Thank you for saving me, Mr. Zhongli.”
Zhongli stayed quiet for a short while more, staring at you so intently it stung. “Forgive my silence,” he finally said. “When I couldn’t find you at Wanmin, I thought that you had been hurt or… that you had run away.”
Astonished, you didn’t really know what to say. Running away was a thought that had crossed your mind, but each time, the cons far outweighed the pros. You were more than familiar with what awaited you on the streets of Liyue. “I am not so stupid to be ignorant of what would happen to me if I did” There was a pregnant pause. “And besides, I have had no reason to, Mr. Zhongli. You have been more than kind to me.”
Zhongli smiled. Was it just your imagination, or were his meltingly gorgeous smiles coming more and more often? Trying not to let your thoughts wander, you blurted the first thing that came to mind. “That spear was beautiful.”
“Thank you,” he said. “It has served me well.”
“Do you really know how to use it?” There had been no weaponry in the house that you’d seen, but you believed him wholeheartedly.
“I am somewhat versed in its usage, yes.” 
“How long did it take you to learn how to fight?” You wondered, sincerely. 
“I have always known how to fight, for as long as I can remember.” Suddenly, his weathered hands made sense. With your notions of him growing up as a sheltered, rich noble shattered, you had never been more curious of his past. Had he been part of the Millelith? “Though, I have since come to learn that it was never true strength. Why do you ask, Hansi?”
You hesitated, nervously glancing away. Way to dig yourself a hole. “Just wondering.”
“Hansi, I gave you my word to keep you safe, to the best of my abilities. However, I fear that there may be times when I may not be by your side, such as tonight.” Zhongli seemed to think deeply about his next words. “Remember that if you want to learn how to fight, you just need to ask.” 
Tell him , a voice in your mind screamed. Tell him about the damned Vision.
As tempting as it was, you were indeed more than familiar with what awaited you on the streets of Liyue. You would not risk, even remotely, your position in Zhongli’s household.
“Thank you, Mr. Zhongli,” you mustered the warmest smile you could, as you stood up to retreat to your room. “I will keep that in mind.”
“That’s all I ask,” Zhongli exhaled deeply. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
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mobagehelllocal · 4 years
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“dati” ver ii - kalim, vil, idia & malleus
A/N: Wah, this got so long I had to split it into two parts ;u; So here’s some information if you didn’t read ver i, and went straight for ver ii! 
 The Reader, is different from the actual MC of TWST! 
“Dati” is a pretty difficult word to translate, because it’s just one word but--it can mean so much.  For the sake of this story, you can interpret its meaning as “a long time ago”. 
Due to the general premise, the reader is female! 
The prologue for ver ii “dati” is the same prologue for ver i! 
Link to the concept design for the uniform!
Inspired by: 
“Dati” by Sam Concepcion, Tippy Dos Santos and Quest. (I encourage you to listen to it OR read the English lyrics.) 
“If You Can Dream” by the Disney Princesses. (I would link both but my posts dont appear if I do that ;u;) 
So, without further ado, let’s get into it!~ 
Other versions: ver i (riddle, leona, azul), ver ii (this)
--
"--as you already know. We held a school-wide meeting about the week long exchange program with the all-females private school, Garden Academy. Professors Divus Crewel and Mozus Trein accompanied our delegates to Garden Academy this morning,” Dire Crowley peered at his students through his black mask, “while Professor Mozus Trein stayed with our delegates, Professor Divus Crewel escorted the delegates from Garden Academy to Night Raven College.” 
Excited whispers broke out in the crowd. Crowley cleared his throat once, then again--before everyone settled down. The Headmaster huffed audibly at that. 
“I’ll be using this morning meeting to introduce the delegates,” Crowley turned to the left side of the stage. He motioned at Crewel who was standing back stage with a Garden Academy professor and her students. “Now then, please give a hand for--” 
In the crowd, his eyes widened. 
--
In turn, you were pretty excited too. You had held off telling your friend about you coming to his school because you wanted to surprise him. 
All you girls had been assigned to a particular dorm, not to sleep in--but rather, to experience. Each dorm in NRC (much like GA), had their own unique culture. So, to truly experience the college meant you all needed to immerse yourselves in the different dorms and their cultures. You had to sneakily reconfirm with him what his dorm was, to make sure you got assigned to the correct one. 
And now that you were here...
“Alright ladies,” Professor Radcliffe said kindly, “we will reconvene here at 5PM to return to the dorm Headmaster Crowley so generously set aside for us.” 
“Yes Professor.” Radcliffe eyed all of you girls, before she sighed with an exasperated smile. You were all very excited, and doing very little to hide that. 
“Okay, I know you want to go--but one last thing,” you all let out loud, false and very unladylike groans that Radcliffe ignored. “Remember to be beautiful--” 
“At heart.” you all recited, familiar with your school’s motto.
“Go on then,” Radcliffe finally said, “the dorm heads and their assistants should be waiting outside for all of you.” 
With a cheer, you all parted ways.
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Kalim‘s eyes brightened as he caught sight of you again.
“Jamil! Jamil! Look!” he tugged on the other boy’s sleeves as he pointed you out to the crowd. “So it really is [Name]!”
“They did announce her full name on the stage, Kalim.” Jamil said rather blandly, not that Kalim was affected by his exasperated tone. 
“Kalim! Jamil!” Your uniform--the pale green of House Water Lily, the House of Passion--swished around you as you came to a stop before the two boys that you hadn’t seen in ages.
“It’s been awhile.” You reached for their hands and clasped them with yours--at which both boys blushed. While Kalim gave you a goofy smile, Jamil instantly looked away. 
You had spent a couple of months as a child in the Land of Hot Sands because your parents were just beginning to expand your family owned restaurant--Tiana’s Palace--into that country. You had met Kalim, then Jamil because your parents were business partners with Kalim’s father. 
It was hard not to enjoy their friendship. Kalim--was fun loving and easy going. Jamil--was calm and attentive. When you were getting exhausted by Kalim’s energy, Jamil knew when to step in and what to say to calm him down. They were perfectly balanced, and you remembered them fondly.
Needless to say...
When it had been time for you to return to your country, there were a lot of tears. 
-
“Sniff... why are you leaving?” Kalim cried, “I thought we would be friends forever!”
“I--I don’t want to leave too!” you shook, snot dripped down your nose.
“Kalim... [Name] has to go back.” Jamil said slowly, but even his eyes were glassy and wet.
“Wah!” You sniffled as you wrapped both of your arms around the two boys who became so dear to you. 
“I--it’s not like we won’t meet again!” Jamil protested, as he too began to truly join in the crying fest.
“Waaah! Don’t leave [Name]!” Kalim wailed loudly. 
“B--but I can’t stay.” you sobbed. “I tried already...” 
(Behind you the adults were chuckling to themselves at the drama the kids were causing... had they not realized they could just ask them to keep in contact...?) 
(But to a child, the world seemed infinite. It didn’t seem to have an end. 
To the three of you, it truly felt like a final farewell.)
“Promise, we won’t forget each other?” you demanded as you pulled back. The two boys shared a glance through their tears and turned back to you with a determined nod.
“Promise we’ll always be friends, no matter what!” Kalim said. In turn you and Jamil nodded pretty determinedly. 
Then you and Kalim turned to Jamil--you waited for him to make a promise too. He flushed at suddenly being put on the spot, before his eyes light up and he said--
“Then we promise--to meet up again, one day? Here?” 
You and Kalim nodded vigorously at that. 
As your parents took you a way, you all wailed pretty loudly. 
“You can see them again one day.” your mother had said, confused. 
“But it doesn’t mean I won’t miss them when I can’t see them.” you said in a solemn tone. Your parents exchanged looks amused looks.
“I’m surprised you got so attached to those two.” 
“They were fun to play with.” 
“I’m sure they were sweetie. Now get some rest.” 
-
There was some time where you all attempted to exchange letters--since the MagiCam had yet to be developed to a point where international instant messaging was possible. 
However... 
Children were fickle creatures.
Within a few months, you all eventually found something of more interest than a friend from a distant place who you might not see again.
Your interests in each other waned away, until it became a distant, fond and somewhat embarrassing memory. 
That is until...
-
“Hey [Name], did you sign up for the Night Raven College exchange program?” You looked up from the recipe book that you were reading.
“Yeah I did, why?”
“Did you know the model, Vil Schoenheit goes there?”
“Who is Vil?” Your friend gasped dramatically before she rolled her eyes. “Figures you wouldn’t know who Vil Schoenheit is. Come here.” She showed you pictures of Vil’s MagiCam account. There were some photos of the school, and rarer still--photos of other people aside from Vil himself. 
Which, you know--if you had a face like that, you’d totally fill your MagiCam with just selfies. 
“Oh Sweet Evangeline,” your friend sighed dreamily, “NRC boys are definitely cuter than RSA boys--and I swear I’m challenging all the RSA stans to try saying otherwise over my dead body--” You snickered at her rant, before a certain photo caught your eye.  
“Oh is that...” 
“Oh holy Evangeline--” your friend began to wheeze. “I think these are all the Dorm Leaders for this school year--” she clicked onto the photo to open the post. Your friend was right--Vil had noted that this was this year’s NRC Dorm Leader list. 
“Malleus Draconia-- naturally. Vil Schoenheit--NATURALLY.” your friend giggled in excitement, “Oh, I guess Leona Kingscholar is repeating a year... No idea who Riddle Rosehearts, Azul Ashengrotto or Idia Shroud is--and this guy is--” 
“Kalim Al-Asim.” you whispered. If you shut your eyes, you could hear the wind whistle, the laughter of two boys, the joyous shrieking of a girl--and a magic carpet ride across the wide expanse of the sky. Your friend arched a brow at you.
“Do you know him?”
“I think I do.” you hesitated, the sound of laughter still rang in your ears. “I’m pretty sure I met him when I was a kid... when I travelled around with my family.” 
“Oooh, you should totally try and see if he remembers. He’s cute.” 
“We were kids.” you tried to explain to your friend but she only waved a dismissive hand. 
“You aren’t now. Also childhood romance trope is so cute, you gotta let me see it first hand.” your friend grabbed your phone and typed in the tagged username of Kalim Al-Asim. 
{”Hi Kalim! Do you remember me? I’m [Name] [Surname].”}
{”Like [Name] [Surname]? Like Tiana’s Place? Yes! Oh Sorceror, how’d you find me?”}
{”Well funny story...”}
-
And the rest was history.
Jamil took awhile to come around, but you had a video call with the two, and after naming a particular embarrassing moment--Jamil had easily been convinced that it was actually you. 
That had been a few months before the actual exchange, and you chose not to tell them about your part in it so you could surprise them once you got up on stage.
Surprise them you did.
The moment they announced your name, Kalim shouted, and Jamil had face palmed. 
It was another memory to add to the ones you held dearly. 
Now you were seated in Scarabia’s dorms, as you happily enjoyed the grand feast and parade prepared by Jamil and Kalim. 
As Kalim flopped onto the seat next to yours, he shot you a wide grin.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” 
“I am!” you hummed, “I haven’t been anywhere close to the Land of Hot Sands recently...” you put your spoon down and smiled. “The food is really good too! This is the best version of your cuisine that I have tasted. My compliments to the chef for sure! I’d love to take a peek at the recipe.” On your other side Jamil choked, and you turned to him with a confused expression. 
“Are you okay, Jamil?” you asked, concerned.
“Hahah, he was probably surprised at the praise! Jamil cooked everything after all!” 
“Woah, you did? We definitely should exchange recipes.” with a particularly red face, Jamil nodded his assent before he excused himself.
“I hope he’s okay.” 
“It’s fine! He’s having a hard time expressing it, but he’s really excited to see you.” Kalim peered at you curiously. “I am too, of course.” 
“Same.” you agreed. “It’s a little sad we lost contact.” 
“Well, finding each other now was pretty fun! So I think it was worth it.” You giggled in response.
“I’ll have to agree with you, Kalim.” 
You both turned back to the front to watch the parade when Kalim spoke up again.
“Hey [Name]?” 
“Hm?”
“This time... let’s not lose each other, okay?” You turned back to Kalim, surprised at the change of his tone. You couldn’t help but let your expression melt into a soft one.
“Mhm! This time... let’s keep those promises.” You two shared a grin, as the parade finished off with fireworks.
--
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When Vil saw you hop up onto the stage, he had definitely been surprised. He hadn’t expected to see you--though now that he thought about it, it had been so out of the blue of you to ask him about whether or not he was in Pomefiore.
Then again he had been busy with other things... So he hadn’t thought too much on it. You were, after all, the type of person who brought up something from ten years in the past simply because you suddenly remembered it. He had assumed it had been something like that.
Vil stood with Rook by his side, his arms crossed as he waited for the Garden Academy students to exit the Mirror Chamber. Once you finally appeared in the crowd, your eyes instantly met his.
“Hi Vil.” you greeted--uncharacteristically nervous and shy around him, dressed in the pale purple colors of House Chrysanthemum--the House of Artistry.
At the sight of you, Vil’s lips instantly curled up into a beautiful smile.
“Well if it isn’t my number one fan.” he raised a hand and began to rub a finger against a purple mark on your cheek. “paint got to your face again.” Your tense shoulders loosened as Vil greeted you the same way he always did.
“Whoops.” Vil shook his head, and as he pulled back he noticed that your skirt and your sleeves had faint splatter marks of paint--and on your wrist--
“You need to stop writing on your wrist, dear one.” he chided gently, though used to your antics, he easily unclipped his magic pen from his breast pocket and began to cast a spell to clean you up.
“Is it that obvious? I really did try to clean up...” you complained, but you let Vil fuss over you--as he normally did. There was no stopping him until he was satisfied. When he finally pulled back, he nodded in an approving manner.
“Vil, did you like it? Was it a good surprise?” you looked up at him with curiosity shining in your eyes, and he let out a soft chuckle.
“Yes. It was a pleasant surprise. So we’ll be spending a whole two weeks together...” he mused.
You were a person he had grown up with, and the person he regarded as his dearest friend. Much like him, you had an eye for art--except while his art focused on himself as a model and actor--yours came in the form of paintings.
Your identical passion for beauty made the two of you attached at the hip. You were the one whose opinion mattered the most to him--because there was no one whose opinions he trusted more.
“Ohoho, Roi de Poison, who is this?” Rook peered curiously at you, he had never seen Vil react like this before...
Well actually he had. Whenever Vil was on his phone--but Vil never explained, and no matter how Rook tried, he never figured it out.
“This is my best friend, [Name]. We’ve been friends since our childhood.” Vil’s lips curled up, “She’s also--” Vil looked at you for a moment, and you nodded. Vil then mentioned your MagiCam account, and Rook’s eyes popped open in surprise. He knew that name--you were one of the most popular artist on MagiCam. Rook knew that you and Vil followed and liked each other’s works, but there had been no hint to the of your relationship with Vil.
He studied Vil curiously.
For someone who was never afraid to share what he did to the public’s eye, you were an incredibly well kept secret for Vil. From what he knew about you on MagiCam--you were a very private person who was never one to share your photos. Why, he knew that Idia Shroud from Ignihyde was a fan of some of your otaku related works--he had heard from the man that one of your quirks was that you chose to never appear in fan gatherings. You were incredibly mysterious.
To realize that--that person--
He eyed you curiously. You were far different from the women that Vil would often be seen hanging out with. As a model, he had a pretty extravagant social life. He hung out with people as glamorous as him and you--
Well, to put it plain and simple, you weren’t anything like that.
“So Vil, where do we go first?” you asked, Vil turned his gaze away from the analytical glint in Rook’s eyes, to smile at you.
“I’ll show you the gardens, I’m sure you’ll love them.”
-
After Vil had bid you ‘good bye’ as you and your classmates returned to your designated dorm, Vil looked at Rook with an annoyed expression.
“Alright Rook.” the Pomefiore Dorm Leader crossed his arms, “what is it?”
“What’s what?” the other third year raised his hands defensively.
“You kept staring at [Name] earlier with that look in your eye... I don’t like it.”
“I was just thinking... she was a very well kept secret.”
“A secret..?” Vil arched a brow. “She isn’t a secret at all. As you remember, she’s also incredibly famous on MagiCam.”
“No, I do mean, she’s a secret of yours, Roi de Poison.” Rook smiled, and Vil’s eyes narrowed in turn.
“I don’t understand.”
“You never mentioned her on MagiCam.”
“That was by her request. She wanted to build up her own audience.” Vil explained.
“Hm... that’s interesting.”
“What is?”
“I do believe...” Rook’s eyes slipped open. “That your friend is hiding something from you.
-
Vil didn’t like to believe what Rook told him, but he did wonder to himself how he could miss it.
You had considered each other best friends--yet he never noticed how you truly felt. The next time he caught you (because for some reason--it was as if you knew he wanted to talk to you about something important--and he had a difficult time catching you), he asked you if you could spend lunch together in private. You had happily agreed.
Once you two had sat down together in one of the gazebos in NRC’s gardens, he placed down the basket of food.
“Ah! Vil, it looks really good~” you said, happy.
“Yes, and you’ll see it’s all healthy too.” he smiled--how could he not, in your presence? As you two began to eat, you chattered on about what you’ve seen and liked about NRC so far. While he did listen--he can’t help but have his thoughts drift off to Rook’s statement.
Could you really be hiding--?
“--Vil? Is something wrong?” you put the utensil down, and studied your friend with a worried expression on your face. He felt a little guilty--your usual absent minded but happy expression was twisted with the furrow of your brow, and the downward slope of your lips.
“No it’s...” he hesitated a moment. He thought for a second how you were the first person to ruffle him in a long time. “I was thinking... we’re both big influencers now--in fashion and in the arts.”
“Alright, I’m listening.” you nodded.
“Why don’t we do a collaboration? While you’re still here. We have a week left.” He offered, and you furrowed your brows.
“I don’t know Vil--as alike as our fields are, our audiences can be pretty different.”
“Do you... well, do you not like sharing about me on your page?” Vil hated this. As an influencer, he was used to being loved and hated. There was a time when the comments got to him--but now, he’s able to brush it off with little problem. With you though--well, he was always going to be emotionally invested in you. So, of course you could make him feel this insecure. He hadn’t felt like this for such a long time--and it’s certainly much worse than he remembered. You looked alarmed.
“What? No, no! Of course that’s not it.” you frantically shook your head as you reached your hands out to hold his.
“Then why? I was happy that you didn’t want to mix business with our friendship... but well... something made me realize that we don’t have a relationship on MagiCam at all and...” Vil paused, and you rubbed the back of his hands gently. “And you’re so important to me [Name]. So I want to share that with my followers too.” Your cheeks turned red at that and you looked down on your laced hands.
“It’s just...” you inhaled sharply, “I... well, I know you have a certain image to uphold and--and I don’t want to be someone who would cause people to criticize you.” you pulled your hands away to gesture at yourself. Paint splattered blouse, ink on your wrist and hair--an absolute mess. “I mean look at me... and look at you. People have a hard time imagining we’re friends and--and well... I know the type of fans Beauty influencers can have. I don’t want to get criticized because I know you’ll defend me and I don’t want that to negatively affect your reputation.” Your eyes flickered away, and he could swear they were slightly wet.
Of course.
Rook was wrong.
Rook had assumed that perhaps you simply hadn’t wanted to be associated with Vil Schoenheit. While that was technically the truth--you weren’t doing it for negative reasons. You were just looking out for him--thinking about the best for his reputation.
“Like right now--I really wanted to see you, surprise you--so I impulsively joined the exchange program and couldn’t back out. I was worried about how people might see us hang out together... I’m worried about how what your fans will think...”
However, there was no way in hell that Vil Schoenheit would let you put yourself down like this.
“Okay, no.” he interrupted, and you looked up at him--confused.
“Vil?”
“I won’t allow you to look down at yourself like that. I appreciate that you care about my reputation but--” he takes your hands in his and looks you in the eye. “[Name], you’re more important to me than that.” your eyes water up, and he kept speaking.
“Sweet one, you were always my number one fan--even before my career really took off, you were the one who cheered me on. You were so sure I could do this, even when I had my own moments of weakness. You believed in me when no one else did.” Vl scowled, “So I’ll always be on your side too, alright? It doesn’t matter to me what they all think.”
“But... you really worked hard to get to where you are.” you said weakly, “It can happen super quickly...”
“I am not Vil Schoenheit for nothing.” he said in response, “besides--you are beautiful [Name].” your blushed intensified, and you ducked your head. “Do you not believe me? I know beauty when I see it--and I know you are.”
“Vil... please stop, you’re embarrassing me.”
“No I will not. I will keep telling you this until you know this. I refuse to let someone I consider beautiful, look down on herself like this. Alright?” He reached out a hand to lift your chin. Your eyes were wet, and you bit your lip as you nodded hesitantly.
He smiled, pleased.
“Vil... I’m sorry for not... well...”
“No, I’m sorry I didn’t realize sooner. What type of best friend am I, that it took someone else pointing it out for me to realize it?” You giggled at that.
“Well, to be fair--we are best friends. I know how to hide it from you.”
“And you better stop hiding these things from me, alright?”
“Yes, of course.” you nodded, a grin finally lit up your face. Vil’s smile turned gentle.
“Now, how about we think of a collaboration project?”
--
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As you stepped out of the Mirror Chamber, you immediately move in the direction of a familiar blue flame.
“Hello Ortho.” When Ortho looked up, he beamed brightly.
“[Name]!” He wrapped his arms around you, which you reciprocate with an elegant smile.
“It has been awhile, has it not?” you mused, as you let go of him. You quickly smoothened the pink skirts of House Eglantine--the House of Sophistication. You turned your head from side to side and your brow raised as you realized that a certain man wasn’t here.
“Ortho, where is your brother?” Ortho gulped nervously, and behind him--one of the Ignihyde student’s gadget began to shake. Your eyes narrowed.
“Is your brother holing himself up in his room again? On such an occasion? Which requires his presence as a dorm leader?”
“Uh...” Ortho glanced away nervously before he met your gaze again. “Yes?”
“Ortho!” squeaked the gadget, “you could defend me!”
“Sorry big brother... but you also brought it onto yourself.” Ortho said quickly, and your lips twitched at that. “There’s no point in lying to [Name].”
“That’s true.” you could hear Idia squeak from the tablet at your response. “Take me to his room.”
“Alright [Name].” Ortho agreed easily.
“Ortho!” Idia wailed, “on whose side are you on?”
“For once, not yours. Sorry big brother.” Ortho eagerly looked up at you. “Will you tell me some stories?”
“I also have pictures.” you offered and Ortho cheered. You turned back to the the tablet.
“Prepare yourself Idia.”
“I’m going to die.”
Your childhood best friend mourned, and your lips quirked in amusement.
Despite it all, you had missed Idia especially because...
Your lips twitched downward for a bit, before you immediately composed yourself.
You really didn’t want to upset Idia after all.
-
As he heard you begin to tell Ortho some stories from your school, Idia began to frantically run around his room, and cleaned up as best as possibly could.
After all, you weren’t a part of House Eglantine just for show.
Like him, you were the daughter of an incredibly old and wealthy family from the Isle of Lamentation. In your childhood, Idia, who had always been shy--attached himself to you, when you had protected him from some bullies. Ever since, he just followed you around.
For some reason, you chose to stick around with him--despite how different the two of you were.
He was an absolute shut-in who preferred to play games and watch anime from the comfort of his bedroom.
You were a popular socialite amongst the elite of the Isle of Lamentation--known for your beauty and intelligence. You were also recognized on MagiCam for your love of travel. In fact, you were often transported all over Twisted Wonderland because tourists locations wanted to be on your account. 
Again, he really didn’t see why you stuck around.
A lot of his friends when he was younger--those seeking to befriend the Shroud Family’s heir--had given up on him when they all realized that he was difficult to communicate with.
But not you.
Ever since he attached himself to you--you had seemed to attach yourself back for no reason. You willingly called himself his best friend (and despite how different you were--he’d admit that you were the only friend he had that he could consider as a best friend--), which could hurt your social standing because of how insanely beloved you were--but you didn’t care (and of course, you’re also the type of popular kid that could never make yourself unpopular).
Don’t get Idia wrong.
He didn’t hate you.
You were patient.
You were kind.
You were understanding.
Idia definitely had a crush on you, and he didn’t know what to do with it--because he had such a hard time finding something about himself that you might be attracted to.
You were like the true hidden route to be conquered on a dating simulation game. First he would need to find a way to ensure that he were on the right path. Then next, he needed to complete a bunch of prerequisites to be able to even access this hidden route.
Your difficulty level was EX.
He had spent most of his childhood by your side--
‘but why does it feel like I know nothing about you?’ he frowned.
Truth be told, Idia had an idea on why. He had been very selfish with you. Nobody had been willing to talk to him about his interests in real life--except you. That’s why he talked to you about his games or robotics--because it’s different when someone in real life is the one doing the listening to you. In the process of that, he felt like you knew more about him than the other way around and it made him guilty.
He was guilty he didn’t hear you out often but the thing is--you never really shared. 
“--Idia.” he felt a hand press against his forehead, and he fell backwards with a screech. You put your hands on your hips as you looked down at him with an arched brow. “Well, at least I know you aren’t running a fever.” 
“You--you’re here!” He squeaked, “Already?”
“I am.” you looked around, and noted how messy his room was. Instead of commenting however, you began to move around and pick up his things. When you noticed he still hadn’t moved, you turned to him with an arched brow. “Come on Idia, I’ll help you.” 
“Ah... Okay.” He looked up at Ortho in confusion, and it seemed that he was also stunned that you hadn’t gone straight into a lecture about his responsibilities as you normally would. 
-
Idia considered himself a terrible friend, but he wasn’t so terrible as to not notice that you weren’t... well, at max HP. Sometimes he thought you would get angry, but you would instead sigh, and just avert your gaze. 
When you were in public (because Idia was worried okay? So he kept an eye out for you too--) you seemed to interact normally with your peers. The fans you had in NRC--were dealt with your normal grace. 
However, when you would visit Idia, you would grow quiet--and thoughtful.
It was, literally, killing him. 
Was it him? Were you mulling the idea of cancelling your support together? 
Idia sincerely didn’t know what to do if this was real. 
So one time when you were in his bedroom, you suddenly got a call. You looked down at your phone, furrowed your brows in that way that Idia hated--and left the room. 
“You should speak with her, brother.” Ortho suggested, a frown on his face. “she seemed really down recently.” 
“I mean... what do I even say?” Idia squeaked. 
“I’m not sure.” Ortho shrugged, “but I can tell your concerned brother, so just do it.” 
-
Idia gathered all his courage, and moved to follow you. As he turned down the hallway he heard you speak.
“--I don’t want to marry Adonis.” 
Idia immediately froze, and stood in place as he heard your one sided argument--with who he assumed--was probably one of your parents.
Alongside with being the most popular socialite of the elites in the Isle of Lamentation, you were also the most desirable waifu--ahem--he meant bachelorette.
Idia knew this because it was one of the only times you ever complained about it. Your parents were pleased with how popular you were, and the amount of marriage offers you received. You had told him that since you were pretty young, you weren’t really being forced to chose now.
“But I’m sure the pressure will be different when I grow older.”  you had sighed. Idia hadn’t known what to say--and the most he could do was put a hand on your back. 
“There... there?” he asked, with a frown. He really hadn’t known what to do. You looked up and met his eyes before laughing.
“Sorry to bother you about this Idia.” 
‘No, it’s okay! I don’t mind!’ was what he thought, but you stood up. 
“Venting helped a little. Thank you for listening.” you picked up your things and stared at a frozen Idia. “I think I’ll go home now. I’ll see you... later.” 
He should’ve tried to stop you--but he just... blanked. He should’ve tried to say something--anything to cheer you up. Heck, maybe you would’ve liked for him to ask if you wanted to game a little to get your mind off of it. 
“I’m serious mother... Adonis doesn’t respect women--I won’t...” you paused, “I won’t feel safe... I know father thinks he’s the best option but... I don’t really want to talk about this right now. I’m in Idia’s dorm...” you stopped again. 
“Mother...” your voice was shaky, and Idia’s hands fisted in his coat. “No. Stop talking about Idia like that.” Idia tensed, and turned his head. “... It’s not about that, he’s my friend. My best friend. I won’t allow you to talk about him like that.” 
Idia had an idea on what the elite of the Isle of Lamentation thought of him. They looked at him with respect because he was the heir to the Shroud Family, they also acknowledged his skills with technology... but otherwise? He was considered eccentric. 
The reason your family did not mind your relationship with him--is because it brought them a certain esteem. That their daughter was the only one who the next Shroud heir would actively communicate with. The Shrouds were still one, if not the most powerful family in the Isle after all. 
“Bye.” 
Idia flinched, and he frantically looked around for a place to hide.
“Idia?” He looked up and noticed that you were looking at him with a startled expression, before it slipped to an exhausted one.
“You heard...?”
“A bit.” he croaked out. “Is that... why you were so sad?” 
“You noticed?” He frowned at that.
“Of course I did... we’re... friends, right?” you studied him carefully, and he felt like he was in a boiler room or something--he was sweating a lot. 
“Yeah we are.” you then slid down to the ground, and tucked your skirt underneath you. You looked up at him expectantly, and he hastily sat down next to you. 
“So they’re pressuring you right now.” Idia stated.
“Yeah.”
“With Adonis.”
“Yeah...” you groaned, as you raised your hands to your temples. “they could’ve chosen anyone.. but they chose that narcissistic... arse.” 
“Who are the other offers?” Idia asked, and you mumbled out a bunch of names he recognized. Hey, he might not be active in the social sphere, but he was aware on who was who. 
“Adonis is...” Idia paused, “well in terms of social standing, I guess.” 
“Yeah. Unless someone of higher status proposes, there’s nothing I can do.” you mumbled. 
“What about me?” You whirled your head to look at Idia. “W-what--? You?” You cleared your throat, “I mean...that... I...” 
“Oh.” Idia blinked in surprise. “No! NO! Wait! I meant, why--what was your mother saying about me?” Your face flushed red, and Idia found your flustered expression cute. You rarely showed that face. 
“Oh you know, same old, same old.” you grumbled as you fanned your face with a hand. “Just... criticizing you... and all that.” 
“Well... I can guess what she said, and... she’s probably... not wrong.” You turned to him with the same ferocity that you had done earlier.
“No Idia, don’t you dare speak of yourself as that. Don’t you dare listen to the elites on Lamentation. They couldn’t be even more wrong about you.” 
“But--”
“No buts.” you narrowed your eyes, and he flinched at the sight of your fury. “You are an amazing person--you’re smarter than they think and you create some pretty amazing things. Sure you could stand to go out more and make friends--but when you’re focused on your craft...” you paused, and you expression softened. Idia wondered what you were remembering. “You are so amazing. I hate how they don’t see that.” His breath hitched.
“You really mean that?”
“Of course I do! I love you--your work.” you coughed in response. The two of you went silent, before you sighed and picked yourself up. He looked up at you, and you shot him the same sad smile you had--all those years back, when the problems of today seemed like distant nightmares. 
“Thank you for listening to me, Idia.” you said, “and I’m sorry to bother you with my problems.” 
“I... I’m your friend right?”
“... Yes.” 
“So please... don’t worry about it [Name].” he looked away uncomfortably. “I may complain sometimes...”
“Sometimes?”
“Okay, all the time.” he said grouchily, and you giggled--which made it all the more worth it. “...even if I complain all the time--you’re still my precious friend.” 
You smiled, leant down and pressed a kiss to his forehead.
When you pulled back, Idia was stuttering, and turning red. 
“Thank you, Idia.”
After you left Ignihyde, he sat back at his computer and began typing out an email.
For you--whose smile was so precious to him...
Idia knew that he liked you. A lot.
He probably already loved you really. 
And judging from the way you reacted--
maybe it was mutual...?
-
Dear Lord and Lady [Surname],
The Most Ancient and Noble House of Shroud would like to extend an offer of engagement between your daughter, [Name] [Surname] and our heir, Lord Idia Shroud...
--
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"Oh no.” one of the Garden Academy students, dressed in the aquamarine colors of House Sage--House of Spirituality, turned to Lilia with a frown. “We’re missing one of our fellow House Sage classmates... give us a moment, we’ll go find her.”
Lilia’s lips only curled upward.
“Would her name happen to be [Name] [Surname]?”
“Yes.” the student blinked in surprise. “That would be her.”
“Ah.” Lilia smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m sure she’s fine. I’m sure he’s gone to find her already.”
The Garden Academy students shared a glance.
-
The most Malleus knew was that majority of the Student Body had gone off to the Mirror Chamber for some event. He didn’t know, after all, he hadn’t been invited.
So he had decided to go on a long walk, internally unamused that he was once more forgotten when he sensed it--
Your presence.
It was in the gentle caress of the wind against his face, in the rustle of the leaves, and in the soft warmth of the sun.
One moment he was incredibly unhappy, and in the next second--he felt your magic touch his.
It was like a ripple--and it soothed his entire being.
You and your magic--he wondered if you knew the extent of your effect on him.
He began to walk deep into the forest.
He paused in his step as he caught sight of you. You had sat down in a patch of sunlight in the small meadow. You were surrounded by some creatures of the forest--from bears to deers and rabbits. You looked completely serene--as you should--after all, you were one of the most powerful nature fae living. Coming from your head were horns--but nothing like his. Yours were shorter, and much more like tree branches. As you hummed idly to yourself, a few birds fluttered forward and decorated your horns with small flowers. Your smile brightened the clearing, and the birds--pleased--chirped a song that you instantly began to hum along with.
How he wished he could draw closer to you without disrupting the peace--animals didn’t do well with Malleus. They inherently knew how powerful he was--and though the same could be said about what they sensed from you--your powers were much more attuned to nature in itself. To be by your side--it would be peace for the animals.
‘ He could understand. By your side, there were no pressures to be anyone else other than himself.’  
As he stepped into the clearing, all the animals turned to look at him, and tensed. You blinked in surprise at their actions, before you turned your head to see Malleus at the far edge of the small clearing you were in.
“Mal.” you greeted, your startled expression slipped into a sweet, happy one. “It has been a long time.” Malleus inclined his head. “Won’t you come close, dear friend?” you raised a hand, beckoning him to come closer.
He eyed the animals around you warily.
“I don’t think they will enjoy that.” You let out a soft laugh at his deadpanned statement. Your laugh seemed to instantly calm most of the animals down (he could feel his tensed shoulders unknot too). You looked around you and began to speak to them.
“Now now everyone--Mal is a dear friend. I grew up with him. He’s a good person. Won’t you all please be patient with him?” The animals around you shuffled uneasily.
You looked up again and gestured for Malleus to draw closer once more. Malleus approached slowly at first, and once he realized that none of the animals would be disrupted, easily slid down beside you. One of the male deers leaned forward to sniff him--and Malleus held as still as possible. Apparently satisfied, the deer relaxed beside Malleus. Around him, the animals slipped back to their relaxed states.
“See? That wasn’t so bad.” One particularly ambitious rabbit hopped up onto your lap and peered inquisitively at Malleus. You smiled, and began to brush your fingers through the animal’s hair.
“[Name], not that I’m unhappy to see you but...” He began, “what are you doing here?”
“My school, the Garden Academy is having an exchange program with your school.” you peered up curiously at your childhood friend. “Did you not hear?”
“As per usual, I do believe people have forgotten to inform me.” he frowned slightly. “Then... this would be the event being held at the Mirror Chamber, then?” You nodded.
“The event should still be ongoing.” Malleus eyed you curiously, but you spread your arms wide in response.
“The trees told me that some creatures were excited to see me.” You said--and the animals all made noises of agreement, “so I thought to visit them already.”
“Will your classmates and teacher not worry then?” You giggled at his questions.
“I appreciate the concern Mal but.. there’s nothing here that can harm me.” you said simply, and he hummed in acknowledgement--you were right.
You were perhaps the one person Malleus could consider an equal.
You had grown up side by side--and he was more than aware of your power and capabilities.
If there was one person who knew him as well as Lilia--it was you. You had seen him at his best and his worst--you were there when he could barely control his own magical power. He hadn’t been good at dampening his own energy back then--nobody ever approached him out of fear for the amount of power he had. The only one who bothered to interact with him had been Lilia, who had been his designated caretaker and...
And you.
You had no reason to be by his side when he had been his most volatile.
But you had been there.
And you stuck by him with no hesitation.
“How about you?” You glanced at the dragon fae from the edge of your eye.
“Ah. I wasn’t invited.” he answered with a sigh, and you could see the discontent in the almost, unnoticeable, wrinkle between his brows. You--who knew him so well--could spot the tiniest giveaways to Malleus’s moods--it was a skill you were proud of.
You were someone who occupied an almost identical role to Malleus. All that differs from the two of you is the type of magic you possessed.
As a dragon fae, and a descendant of the Witch of Thorns--it was easy to predict the type of power Malleus would eventually manifest. Draconic transformation and dark magic. This made people fear him, and dislike interacting with him.
As a nature fae, and a descendant of the Spirit of the Willow--most knew that you would grow to have power attuned with nature. It explained why you could speak the language of the trees and flowers--why animals adored you. To others--people saw you as harmless.  
Perhaps in the beginning, you hadn’t really thought too much of your similarities. As years passed however--you realized how unfair the world was to Malleus.
They never saw the boy who sneezed and set Lilia’s hair on fire, they never acknowledged the man who treasured his Gao Gao Dragon toy--because it adored him as is. They didn’t allow Malleus to make mistakes, they didn’t allow Malleus to be vulnerable. They refused to see past this idea of a strong magician and the title of prince.
You reached forward and cupped his cheek. He turned to look at you quizzically.
“Then... should we have our own event?” You smiled, a tad bit more mischievous. You looked down at the animals. “Would you be willing to help out, my friends?”
The bunny in your lap twitched its nose in response, and a lot of the animals eagerly leaned closer.
“An event, like a party--to celebrate our reunion?” You glanced at Malleus to see him look on in curiosity. It seemed like the animals understood the idea of a party and began to move. You noticed the the female animals were the ones who specifically pulled you away, and when you glanced at Malleus--you noticed the the male animals began to surround him. He shot you a desperate look, but you only laughed.
“Let’s have fun!”
-
The male animals had weaved flowers together on top of Malleus’s head. Another animal had gotten several leaves, and put them together to form a long cape. He had no idea how the animals were doing it--but he just assumed it was because you were magic.
One of the birds flew over, and chirped loudly--which the animals took as a sort of signal. They all stopped and studied what they had done to Malleus. They began to make displeased noises, until one of the deers pushed a long stick towards Malleus. When he picked it up, he looked to the animals to see that they were all still unsatisfied. To humor them, He unclipped his pen from his breast pocket and waved it. He used the foliage that had fallen to the ground to decorate the stick--and craft it into a staff similar to his own.
“Is it good?” he asked, and the animals all vigorously gave their assent. At that, he could feel his lips curl up. The bird chirped again, and the animals snapped into action. One of the bucks nudge Malleus forward with his snout. “Ah, is it time to go back?” the birds make a pleasant chirping sound, and he allowed himself to be pushed back into the clearing.
He found himself in the clearing again--with all the male animals standing by his side. He thought briefly of what an amusing sight this probably was, until another bird chirped from the opposite side of the clearing. He raised his gaze that way, as a bunch of female birds flew in, and dropped flower petals onto the ground. The smaller animals came in first, followed by the younger fauns--and finally--
You stepped forth into the light of the clearing, and he found his breath caught in his throat. While the flowers on his form were restricted to his crown--the animals had chosen to decorate your whole form with it. Unlike the flower crown you were wearing earlier--this one had a train that fell to the ground, and billowed around you--making you all the more ethereal. Escorted on either side by the tall, elegant form of does--you resembled the idea of a Fae Queen with her animal court. As you came to a stop beside Malleus, you giggled at his surprised expression. He felt something tug on his pants, and when he looked down--he found a squirrel made exaggerated gestures towards you.
“Ah.” he looked up and met your curious gaze. “You look beautiful, [Name].” And he did mean it--for the centuries that he had known you, and the centuries he had yet to share with you--he knew that one thing would remain constant--the way you made his heart skip a beat, and the way you were beauty in everything you did.
“Thank you, Malleus. You look handsome” you blushed. That’s when you were both nudged forward by the deers, and were now much closer. One of the deers, snatched the staff in his hand. The birds fluttered around you, pulling your sleeves into place until finally--both you and Malleus were moved to a waltz pose. You stared into each other’s eyes, stunned. Malleus wondered briefly is animals were truly capable of sensing feelings he had--that even he had yet to fully comprehend.
“Shall we?” he offered, and you beamed in response. The birds began to sing, and the two of you proceeded to dance in the clearing.
“I think they enjoyed themselves, too much.”
“Did you have fun?” Malleus asked gently, and you smiled.
“I did but...” you curiously peered up at him. “Did you have fun?”
“I suppose I did.” He mused.
The other animals watched on--pleased.
Though neither of you saw it--blissfully caught up in enjoying your dance--they did. They could see the future King and Queen of Faeries.
--
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babelfishing · 3 years
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Everything I Have Written
It's about time I added a pinned post with everything I've written online. I originally thought, "I'll make this a best-of!" But eh, I love them all in their own special way. So here's just about Everything (TM).
I'll do my best to keep this updated with new content. Thank you so much for reading! Your comments and kudos mean the world to me.
Things I Have Written (She-Ra)
The Girl Who Swallowed a Star
"Hey, it's okay. Just relax, straighten your legs, and start walking."
Adora's body did so reflexively and to her surprise, the air beneath her boots felt stable and calm. Gingerly, she leaned her weight forward and found that the invisible surface did not give way.
"There you go, now you're getting it," Catra whispered after sensing the lingering tension in her ward's body. She leaned in closer such that her chin rested in the crook of Adora's neck. "Don't worry, I've got you."
A few dreamy steps further, the sorceress looked over and caught Adora staring. With an enticing grin, she returned the favor.
"Look at you. You're a natural."
"Heh...I guess so."
"And here I thought you were some magic-less flower delivery girl."
"You're pretty magical yourself."
Or
A Howl’s Moving Castle-inspired AU about love, war, and the perils of fighting other people’s battles. (Ongoing, Ch. 1 so far)
My Heart Overtook my Body
My "Your Name" AU, written for the S5 1-Year Anniversary Big Bang!
Like perfect strangers, Catra and Adora are busy living their own lives, out in the country and deep in the city, respectively. But one night, they begin switching places, each waking the next morning in the other’s body without a clue to the cause. As the switches continue, the pair are faced with a daily choice – stay true to their opposite’s wishes or meddle in their affairs, spicing it up or perfecting it as they see fit.
Soon enough, the pair find themselves at each other’s necks, spiteful of the person on the other end of the line. But as they begin to see more of the world through the other’s eyes, Catra and Adora begin to feel their summer passions blossoming into something more, their lives now inextricably bound by the red string of fate. That cord continues to tighten as they explore the person they’ve become, until the pair must overcome a hardship greater than distance to find a way back to each other (53k, 12 chapters)
A Beautiful Wish
Without warning, Catra opens her eyes and finds herself in a new reality where the Horde’s conquest had been successful, where she has become queen of the Horde by force, and where Adora has never left her side. Wracked with an insatiable bout of amnesia, Catra must now decide if this world is truly what she wants – even when it is too good to be true.
Or
A parallel to Adora's "wish" in Heart Pt. 2 (9.9k words).
Something Bitter, Something Sweet
Between their banter and a few glasses of wine, Catra and Glimmer stir up a cherished dumpling recipe and a few bittersweet memories (9.2k)
Caught Out
Adora and Catra trek through the great outdoors together and try to climb up to a scenic mountain peak. The weather has other plans, though. Despite the rain, the couple find a way to grow closer while retracing feelings of the past (9k).
Pitter Patter Goes my Heart
Catra has something she needs to ask Adora, and her racing thoughts won’t let her sleep until she gets an answer. It all started with a nightmare, but in the silence of their Horde cadet dormitory, Catra still finds the courage to lean into a dream she’s long held in her heart (3.3k).
The Sculptors Marble Sends Regards
On the 3rd anniversary of the war's end, Bright Moon makes a new addition to its statuary hall of heroes. Catra feels like she doesn't deserve the honor, causing old guilt about the war to bubble up (5.9k).
Pink in the Night
On a cadet training mission in the field, Catra and Adora sneak out of camp to explore a mysterious glowing cave. There, a crystal of unique beauty catches their mutual eye. But their nighttime escapade soon turns treacherous as the ground beneath them begins to give way. In the blink of an eye, Catra learns what it takes to save the person she cares about most in the world - even if she's only beginning to come to terms with her feelings (13.8k).
Compliments to the Chef
Catra and Adora enjoy the beginnings of a perfect Saturday morning, starting with a lovingly prepared meal and then...maybe more (4k)
That's It, Forever
My first ever fic! Catra struggles with her guilty conscience, even with the war now in the rear view (2.6k).
Don't Change
Catra has a question and she’s not sure she can sleep until she knows the answer. She wants to know what it feels like to transform into She-Ra, but more importantly, she wants to be sure she’ll always have Adora - no matter who she changes into (3.2k).
Truth and/or Drink
What's a few personal questions between friends? A lot, as it turns out, based on Adora and Glimmer's romantic history. For a time, both women thought that they could make their living arrangement work platonically. But after a few rounds of a classic drinking game, they both reveal some truths that help reconcile their past while also making it harder for them to live together as "just friends" (7.4k).
Missing Out, Missing You
One evening, aboard Horde Prime’s ship, two former enemies converse about their younger years and what could have been, if not for the war (2.2k)
Things I Have Written (The Owl House)
Mint Chocolate
Amity's not jazzed about the prospect of re-dying her hair. That is, until Luz volunteers to help. After that, she can hardly say "no," let alone remain focused on the task at hand. In the end, the pair end up with more on their mind than what to do with their snow white hair (6.6k).
Such a Heavenly View
Amity invites Luz to watch the stars from a popular Boiling Isles overlook. But a storm rolls in to ruin their date - at least, that's what everyone around them knows it to be. Luz manages to find a way to save the night, though, with a little mix of magic and burgeoning affection. (7.4k)
A Dull Roar
A project due date is approaching, so naturally, the library would be the best place for Luz and Amity to study. But as it turns out, even the library can offer its own share of distractions – that is, if you’re sitting with the right person.
Or
Amity and Luz try to hit the books, but end up hitting on each other – in their own way (9.9k).
Don't Hold Your Breath
After Boscha tosses Amity's pendant in the Hexside pool, it's up to Luz and Amity to sneak in like cat burglars and nab it back. Their escapade makes for an intimate evening of night swimming - even if they're not mutually ready to admit their feelings just yet. But even without saying it, Luz eventually shows how much her new friend means to her when the pool's perilous nature comes to a head (8.5k)
The Fireworks in Me
On the eve of the Midwinter Festival, an argument between Amity and Luz boils over, leaving the latter struggling to find the words to apologize. Though a walk through town manages to cool her nerves, it may take a little extra warmth - from her girlfriend and their favorite holiday brew - to fully make amends (3.5k).
Letterman
After lending Luz her varsity jacket, Amity realizes the implications just a moment too late (2.4k).
In the Blink of an Eye
A serendipitous encounter in the Palisman Woods offers Amity a chance to show her true spark. But her fire magic isn’t the only flame on this battlefield. Somehow, someway, Amity finds her harsh demeanor melting away after catching a glance of a certain human stranger. Maybe if she’s lucky, her quick thinking will be enough to get her name (7.9k)
Thank you to everyone who reads my work! Your kudos and comments are appreciated beyond your wildest belief. I have a bunch of wips and half-ideas that I may add to this collection as well, so don't miss those.
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twstarchives · 4 years
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Riddle Rosehearts・Voice Lines
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Additional Voice Lines: 
Dress-Up Groom event card
NRC Master Chef event card
School Uniform - R
Unlock Card “Of course I’m the best. It’s not something to be surprised about.”
Groovy “Is there anything more important for students like us than our studies?”
Home Setting “Now, let’s get ready for our next class.”
Home Transitions “I make a rule of ironing my uniform shirt every morning.”
“It’s unacceptable to just lazily throw on Night Raven College’s uniform.” 
“The interior design of Ramshackle’s lounge is quite strange. Is that how you like it?”
Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Do you need something from me? Enough staring at me—use your words.”
Home Taps “The more you learn, the more things you’re able to do. That’s why studying is so much fun.”
“You’re hungry? Then why don’t we begin our tea-time? Trey’s cake should almost be ready.”
“It must be tiring trying to get Grim to listen to you. Heartslabyul has a lot of obnoxious people too, so I know the feeling.”
“Are you free right now? Then I think you should read the Queen of Hearts’ rulebook.”
“Your tie and collar are crooked. You’re not in uniform unless you’re wearing it correctly.”
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PE Uniform - R
Unlock Card “Magic is more important than fitness if you want to be a mage. Don’t you think so?”
Groovy “Training your magic will make up for any amount of physical strength.”
Home Setting “Class lectures alone are not enough for your learning.”
Home Transitions “‘I look like I’m bad at sports’? ...What an interesting thing to say. Why don’t we see if that’s true?”
“You still need physical strength if you want to be an eminent mage. That being said, I don’t think you need to be as muscular as Coach Vargas.”
“I thought I’d get taller right away when I first came here, so I bought a PE uniform that was a little too big for me.”
Home Transition (Login Greeting) “We’ll be having croquet practice at Heartslabyul. Why don’t you come take a look if you’re interested?”
Home Taps “How about you join the Horse Riding Club if you can’t find any sports you like? I’d be a very kind instructor for you.”
“I don’t hate doing sports or anything. Talent and taste are two different things.”
“Did Ace invite you to his basketball game too? Want to go together?”
“I heard that pacing as you study helps you memorize things faster. I’ve been been thinking of starting to do that.”
“I recommend asking Cater for advice on flying class rather than me. He has a good sense of balance.”
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Lab Coat - SR
Unlock Card “People say that experiments and cooking are similar, but I don’t think so at all.”
Groovy “I want to be graceful in everything I do, just like the Queen of Hearts.”
Home Setting “Difficult assignments are all the more fulfilling.”
Home Transitions “Have you been to the library yet? You should definitely stop by at least once sometime. There are a lot of books you’d find useful there.”
“Trey is working on a new recipe in the science club. He might share some with you if you’re lucky.”
“It’s difficult for the dorm leaders to make time for themselves. How did the Queen ever set aside time while also keeping an entire kingdom in order?”
Home Transition (Login Greeting) “I like mixing chemicals. Unlike cooking, the amount of every ingredient you need is always clear-cut.”
Home Transition (Groovy) “I’ll be reviewing for class now. Come with me if you’re having trouble with anything. But if not... you don’t have to come.”
Home Taps “I still don’t know what I’m going to do in the future, but I’ve always wanted to be a magical doctor.”
“The smell of antiseptics is very calming. It’s my second favorite smell, right after freshly-baked cake.”
“I heard some of my first-years made Professor Crewel angry again. Honestly, those two never learn.”
“Cater is very good at astrology. You’d think astrology would be based off the  paranormal, but apparently it’s backed up by statistics. There’s really a science like that...?”
“Could you quit pulling at my sleeve over and over again? You’re not the King of Hearts...” ¹
Home Tap (Groovy) “I’m very confident in my command of potions, but don’t expect anything from me when it comes to cooking. ...O-Of course I’m going to work on that.”
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Ceremony Robes - SR
Unlock Card “None of you are little girls who have lost their way. I will not tolerate any rude behavior.”
Groovy “Line up! I don’t want to see a single hair on your heads out of place.”
Home Setting “Now, it’s time.”
Home Transition “I’ve been a student representative many times, ever since I was in elementary school. Public speaking is nothing new to me.”
“The ceremony robes are Night Raven College’s iconic regalia. Wearing them makes me feel very dignified.��
“...Oh, is that you? When everyone is wearing the ceremony robes, it’s hard to tell who is who.”
Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Wearing this reminds me of the mayhem that happened at the entrance ceremony. If something like that breaks out again... You understand, don’t you?”
Home Transition (Groovy) “You have the same ceremony robes I do; haven’t you had enough staring at me? ...I see.”
Home Taps “I hate people who are never on time. I won’t forgive you if you’re late to the ceremony by even a second. Keep that in mind.”
“I still consider myself rather lenient about rules compared to how strict the Queen of Hearts was.”
“Deuce from our dorm is a very dedicated, exemplary student... I just wish he was a little more sensible...”
“You should listen to what the teachers tell you. They’re what keeps this school in line.”
“There’s no need to rush. I’ve been keeping an eye on my watch. Don’t worry; it’s not broken or anything.”
Home Tap (Groovy) “Come let me know if you’re ever having trouble dealing with Grim. I have the perfect collar waiting for him.”
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Dorm Uniform - SSR
Unlock Card “Who’s been painting my roses red?”
“As long as I am dorm leader, there will be no failures in Heartslabyul.”
Groovy “So? You can feel my power, can’t you?”
Home Setting “Do you understand? The answer is ‘Yes, Dorm Leader.’”
Home Transitions “Have you seen Ace anywhere? He’s supposed to be on hedgehog care duty today... Does he want to lose his head again?”
“Hey! I understand you’re in a hurry, but you mustn’t run in the halls. The rules of the Queen of Hearts aside, that’s just common courtesy.”
“Anyone who calls himself a Heartslabyul student must adhere to a routine lifestyle.”
Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Today we’re having an Unbirthday Party. I wouldn’t mind if you joined us, as long as it’s not your birthday.”
Home Transition (Groovy) “As long as you obey the rules of the Queen of Hearts, you’re always welcome at Heartslabyul.”
Home Taps “This crown is supposed to be a replica of the one the Queen of Hearts wore. She was a wonderful monarch; I want to be like her too.”
“Anyone who opposes my way of doing things surely must be prepared to lose their head.”
“I only wear these high heels because they're fashioned after the ones the Queen of Hearts wore, not because I actually want to wear them or anything...”
“Honestly. It’s just work, work, work for this dorm. But as busy as I am, I would never try to cut corners.”
“Hm? My badge is crooked? The dorm uniforms have so many components to them; they’re really troublesome.”
Home Tap (Groovy) “Our campus is vast, but I don’t believe there’s anywhere more beautiful than the gardens. You should come see it sometime.”
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Tutorial “Ready to go? Tardiness is unacceptable.”
Lv Up “Yes, not bad.”
“Heh, it feels good to get stronger.”
“You need to work hard in order to be the best.”
Max Lv Up “I think I’ve gotten a little closer to the powerful Queen of Hearts. What do you think?”
Episode Lv Up “You’re very strange. Everyone fears me, and yet you don’t even bat an eye. But I’m not saying you need to fix your attitude or anything...”
Magic Lv Up “Everything is going just how I want it to.”
Limit Break “I hate the word ‘limit.’ My progress is still far from over.”
Groovy “I have all this power now... There are definitely things you won’t learn with studying alone.”
Lesson Select “Hm... You look like you have an idea for something. I’ll follow your orders today.”
“Choose a subject you need to take. Or better yet, pick one you struggle in.”
“I always take the top in any class I’m in. Come with me; I’ll prove it.”
Lesson Start “What are we going to learn today?”
Lesson End “Yes, that was time well spent.”
Battle Start “Heh~ You’ve got some nerve.”
Battle End “See—no one is as right as I am!”
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Profile Quote “Are all of you ready? Off with your heads!” ²
January 2020 Trailer “If you keep me waiting any longer than this... it’ll be off with your head. Keep that in mind.”
Countdown Poster “The Queen of Hearts’ rules are absolute. If you ever were to break them… you already know what would happen, don’t you?”
Login Bonus “Good, you’re right on time. Excellent. A punctual lifestyle is a very good thing.”
Player Birthday Wish “It seems we won’t be having an Unbirthday Party today. Your birthday only happens once a year. You must eat cake, open your presents, and enjoy yourself as best as you can.”
Valentine’s Gift Letter (2021)
These letters were originally in English. I didn’t translate or edit them in any way. They came with official merch from Aniplex, and are not present in-game.
Dear friend, Thank you for the present. Your choice in gifts has absolutely delighted me. Tell you what, why don’t I invite you to a lovely afternoon tea later? Just as a way to express my gratitude. Of course, you won’t turn down the invitation, I trust?
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1. You’re not the King of Hearts...
The King of Hearts was often tugging on the Queen’s skirt to get her attention
2. Are all of you ready? Off with your heads!
This entire line was spoken in the movie, but the English dub’s equivalent was very off (For painting my roses red, someone will lose his head!) so I just translated literally + only kept the “Off with your heads!” reference.
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tbhwhocaresanymore · 3 years
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Nancy Drew 2x2
Me in my naïveté: surely, the Nancy Drew writers, the best writers the CW has on staff, have run out of ways to bring back past moments and episodes that seemed unimportant at the time.
ND writers: Bitch you thought?
Y’ALL
When I say tonight’s episode made me absolutely lose my actual goddamn mind that is not in any way an exaggeration. My brain physically pried itself out of my skull and ran away down the street.
Jesus Jedediah Christ the way they brought back those five people/ghosts who at the time seemed absolutely unimportant and sent me so entirely off my rocker if I even attempt to think about it for more than two seconds I’ll spontaneously combust so we’re going to have to work around it.
First off, no surprise: HANNAH GRUEN. My bae. My wife. Love of my life. You were only there for two minutes but they were exquisite.
Second I fucking KNEW that dude from the Marvin funeral episode was important. If you’ll recall from my review my theory at the time was that maybe HE killed Owen, but you know what this was so much better.
Okay, to business. At the beginning when Nancy is seeing all of the scratches on Douglas Marvin’s grave and then we zoom out to kind of see the Aglaeca in the side of the frame, and then zoom out more and it turns around and LOOKS at us doing that creepy little swaying thing? POETIC CINEMA. Riverdale wants what Nancy Drew has.
That “unfortunate first meeting” George had with Nick’s mom and her subsequent attempts to prove herself, culminating in Millie giving her the dumpling recipe? Adorable. Speaking of the mom, I do indeed hope we see more of her. Her and Nick’s moment at the end of the episode where he talked about seeing her cry in the courtroom absolutely broke my heart. I can’t handle the thought of him not at the very least having the occasional phone call with her from this point onwards.
To be entirely honest almost every scene with the mom broke my heart. When she was talking about how she and her husband raised Nick to always do everything right and lost him anyway? Hhhhhhhhhhhhh it hurts. The writers said they would be keeping BLM in mind while writing this season, like how they kept Me Too in mind for the first one, and I was a little worried it would be hamfisted. But if they continue as they did tonight it will be nothing but beautiful.
Guys. Guys. I know I said I had no idea how to talk about it but I have to talk about it. That scene in the orphanage. When they find the photo. And Nancy realizes she has seen all of those ghosts before.
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GUYS.
EPISODE 3.
SINCE EPISODE THREE THE WRITERS HAVE BEEN PLANNING THIS.
GODDAMN DO WE LOVE CONTINUITY AND FOLLOWING THROUGH ON PLOT LINES AND WRITERS WHO KNOW WHAT THE FUCK THEY’RE DOING. I WANT TO FIND THE SHOWRUNNER AND KISS THEM ON THE MOUTH.
Ahem.
Anyway.
I thought Carson and Ace had some really nice moments this episode. i.e. “The guy at the store said it was a one man job.” “I think the guy at the store lied to you.” I am, however, curious if Nancy is going to ever bring her father in on the fact that supernatural beings exist and that she deals with them on the reg. Like I know he helped them out with the coma ritual with McGinnis (McGinnis come back 😭😭😭) but they never really brought it up with him again, and he’s been like kept out of the loop on it all ever since. I’m just wondering if he in fact actually knows and is just remarkably calm all the time, or if he’s in denial, or what. But tbh I do have a very strong amount of sympathy for Carson, and I really want him and Nancy to get back on good terms. At the end of the episode when she brought him the coffee and stuff I teared up a little. I’m an adult, I can admit it. Maybe it’s just because I’m such a massive fan of the books, where she and her dad were so close, but having them at odds especially after they started out that way, is painful.
Speaking of the books.
Fernwood orphanage. Hhhhhh writers I see what you did there. But for those of you who don’t know, in Nancy Drew #9 The Sign of the Twisted Candle, Nancy Bess and George stop at a roadside inn/bed and breakfast type place. At the inn is a 100 year old man named Ada Sydney who Nancy befriends, along with a young orphan waitress named Carol Wipple whom Ada has a soft spot for. The next day he dies, and turns out Carson is his lawyer and Nancy goes with him for the will reading. Long story short, Carol is apparently his granddaughter and he leaves her like EVERYTHING, but when she was young she grew up at, drumroll please!
FERNWOOD ORPHANAGE. I AM DECEASED.
And the Stratemeyer woods? For the same people, Stratemeyer Syndicate was the place that published all the Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, Tom Swift books, etc. You will not be able to find them today however, as they were bought by Simon and Schuster in like 1987.
Back to the show.
When Detective Tamura (aka The Inferior McGinnis Who Can Rot In Hell) said the skeleton was Buddy and NOT KJ (AJ? I’m deaf) I got suspicious. And then as soon as they played the record and only five ghosts showed up, I was all ‘HOLY SHIT HE IS ALIVE’ and then he WAS. At the end of the episode, when they saw the flowers on the graves? You guys I was LOSING. MY MIND. And then the note saying “forgive me -kitsune” aaaaaaah. I am in fact afraid that he wants forgiveness because he sacrificed the others to save himself, but I am praying the writers do not do that to me.
I’m interested in finding out, assuming we meet KJ/AJ next episode, WHY the 1975 group reached out to the Aglaeca in the first place. Nancy and Crew did it because they needed Lucy Sable’s bones from 20 years ago to get Carson off the hook for murder, I am assuming these guys had at least as good a reason. And the Aglaeca herself. Dear god you guys. Odette Marvin. I’ve been saying and we’ve all known for a while, that she was wronged by the Marvin family. But Lordy that’s extreme. Listening to the overlaying recording? They low key abducted her, stole her fortune, her chaperone and the captain betrayed her, she was presumably bound hand and foot had her head shaved and got thrown into the ocean. I think I might be a little murderous too ngl. Although it begs the question, why exactly did Douglas Marvin have her painted into the hall of tragedies? I don’t think it was to gloat. Maybe Odette haunted him after the fact and added herself into the painting? But my favorite theory is that Odette as the Aglaeca started killing all the people who were in on it, her chaperone, the captain, etc., (I assume there were six) and Douglas saw the others dying and painted her into the portrait as a way to warn future generations of Marvins, rather than fess up to what he had done. I also want to know the deal with the first women to summon her, and the mirror? There is potential there I KNOW IT.
If you’re not a Drewson shipper feel free to skim this paragraph but guys Nick and Nancy are soulmates it’s confirmed. I’m not even kidding guys I was in no way shape or form prepared for the amount of Nick x Nancy content I got tonight. When Nick is at her house and they mention how they skipped friendship the first time around? “We skipped a lot of things the first time around.” DEAD. And then later at the Claw, when Nancy and not George came to comfort him post fight with the mother? And then he saw that look Nancy gets where her eyes flit around cause her mind is working overtime? *chef’s kiss* My prediction is they will spend this season building up a strong, solid, foundational Nancy x Nick friendship and then when they give the romance a second go they will be so. much. stronger. I’m guessing season 3 will be spent in a bit of a complicated love triangle with Nick and Nancy (re)developing feelings for each other while still having them for George and Ace, making the eventual payoff all the more delightful.
I close this review - which was admittedly less of a review and more of me shrieking incoherently - off with a plea to the writers.
*eyes turn black*
WHERE IS DEAD LUCY
WRITERS
WHERE IS SHE
IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR. FOR TEN MONTHS NOW I HAVE GONE WITHOUT HER. SHE HAS BEEN GONE SINCE EPISODE 16. NO SCREAMING. NO CREEPY CRAWLING. NOTHING. WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER. BRING HER TO ME.
*shakes self* Glad to get that out of my system. See you all next week for 2x3, The Secret of the Solitary Scribe.
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ksyescribe · 4 years
Text
The Boys™ Speaking A Foreign Language (HQ Edition)
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Featuring: Oikawa, Osamu, & Ushijima
Warnings: Some slight manga spoilers!
A/N: This headcanon is centered around these bbs speaking Spanish but I think they can really be applied to any language! I hope you guys enjoy! Also thank you @cttnclouds​ for the Osamu fusion idea you’re literally an angel and i love you.
Oikawa Tōru
Why he learned: 
He moved to Argentina. It’s either learn or get really got at using hand signals.
Learning Process: 
Honestly? Probably tried the whole DuoLingo thing the first few weeks after he got the okay to move to Argentina. But after a while he burnt out.
He probably got up to like the introductory phrases and then fell off. Probably because he had to deal with all the logistical stuff that comes with moving.
(Someone help him cause he literally thought moving would be an easy one two three job :’) Iwa-chan help!)
The next time he remembers that he’s literally going to a new country with a new language is like a month before he moves.
He’s shopping with Iwaizumi for some new clothes and stuff when Iwaizumi just goes “So how’s your Spanish coming along?
freeze frame, his face looks like this: (∩╹□╹∩)
Anyways he really like stress buys like three different Japanese books that he then FORGETS ABOUT for the rest of the month.
He reads them on the flight to Argentina. The only things he learned were how to ask for the time and directions. 
Oh boy, Argentina’s going to be fun :’)
When he uses Spanish in front of you for the first time:
Right so, the first time you see him use his sorry excuse for Spanish is at the little corner coffee shop down the street
Of course everyone’s like eyeing him cause, why is a foreigner here in the hidden gem of the city? But also he’s kinda cute what?
Anyways, you���re minding your own business until you hear the heavily accented Spanish.
And pues, we’re all little chismosos so of course you pay attention to what he’s trying to do (order a coffee but he literally cant remember what the word for sugar is dear god someone help this man)
After cringing you step up with the translator app on your phone open and obviously help him out. 
He’s a little impressed because: 1. Your Spanish is so smooth and flowy it sounds like you’re reciting poetry and 2. Why didn’t he think of the translator app tf??
So you get his order shoot it back to Sandra over the counter in fast Spanish and then order your own stuff before moving off to the side to wait for your coffee.
Oikawa might be an idiot right but he’s not going to pass up the opportunity to ask you to teach him Spanish?? 
I mean you’re cute, you’re obviously a local from the way you were greeting everyone inside the shop, and well, you’re the only person who’s tried to help him out so far and that means a lot to him.
For some odd reason you actually agree? You still don’t know what caused you to say yes. Probably the pitiful look he had when he told you he had to move cause of work and he knew nobody else here.
How you help him with learning/bettering his Spanish:
Honestly, he bitched a lot at the beginning but forcing him to only communicate in Spanish really helped him out. 
So taking him on town trips and having him tell you about what he’s seen or what he wants to do in Spanish really helped him. Also having your friends come with is really fun cause he tries to teach them some Japanese words while they translate that into Spanish.
Also being immersed in the language is a big plus.
But I think the #1 thing that really helped him was watching novelas with you. 
Like he wants to understand what Gabriela is yelling to Sofia about in real time not through the subtitles. (But damn Gabriela really slept with Sofia’s fiance? Wack, that man is not worth it hun)
You know his Spanish’s getting better when you walk into a completely new bread shop that the two of you are visiting and he just goes ahead and orders in fluent Spanish.
Leaves both you and the attendant in shock. But he just comes back and asks you in Spanish too, “Lo hice bien? No me trave verdad?”
The woman literally swoons from the whole encounter. He is now a danger to any woman within five miles of the vicinity. Gets all cocky about it.
Favorite Spanish Word: Alborotar - Disturb? That’s what google says but it’s more like mess up.
Miya Osamu
Why he learned:
Honestly? This Mexican-Japanese fusion place opened up and he just wants to talk to the chef about where he gets his ingredients from because this shit tastes amazing!!
Learning Process:
Went home the first night after eating at that restaurant and bought a year subscription for Rosetta Stone. 
He’s kind of regretting it because like, maybe he should’ve gone with the monthly plan? Fuck he shouldn’t have gotten ahead of himself.
He tries to do an hour of the program a day minimum. There’s some days where the hour like drags on and other days where he’s so pumped that he does more than one hour.
His max was one day where it snowed so hard that nobody could go out so he spent like 10 hours doing Rosetta Stone.
He tried going to like one of the Brazilian stores around his house to try out his Spanish with them but was sorely disappointed to learn that Brazilians do not speak Spanish.
Still got some bomb ass brigadeiros though so who’s the real winner here huh? 
Actually put up a craigslist ad for a Spanish partner. 
It’s up for a whopping 5 minutes before he promptly deleted the ad. 
Instead!! This man signs up for one of those international pen pal services and gets matched with someone fluent in Spanish (it’s you hello).
And it turns out said person is coming to Japan soon for a year abroad?? And they have a basic Japanese foundation?
Yeah dude he lucked out.
Out of all three boys, his alone learning goes pretty well. Gets a good foundation of Spanish.
When he uses Spanish in front of you for the first time:
This one’s so cute!! He actually does it sort of by accident?
He’s made friends with everyone at the fusion restaurant including the chef because he actually managed to hold a decent conversation in Spanish.
His brain just automatically switches to Spanish when he enters the restaurant.
So when you hear him bust out into a full fluent Spanish conversation with the waiter you kind of sit there like: (・о・)
This man even orders and asks you if you want to split a bottle of wine in Spanish.
You could only nod because holy shit. 
Like yes you’ve heard him speak it over the discord calls before but in person?? That’s a whole nother story.
Specially because his pronunciation is so good?? And he has the right accent? It’s so smooth like it just flows naturally from him.
And he can actually roll the r’s god damn sir
How you help him with learning/bettering his Spanish:
So he has a pretty good grasp on the language which means he doesn’t need much help with learning.
But you can help expand his knowledge. Like teaching him about how in some countries/dialects things might be said differently. (Like how there’s 17 ways to say straw. Hondurans say pajilla and that’s all I knew for a bunch of years)
He’ll also need help with learning about a lot of food names. He only knows the basic names, not any special fruits or like combination dishes so that’ll be fun. 
You actually start cooking new latin recipes every Saturday so he can familiarize himself with the cuisine.
Some ingredients are hard to come by but the adventure in finding them is so worth it.
His favorite recipe so far? Making Pollo con Tajadas from Honduras. The Bandeja Paisa from Colombia is a close second.
Favorite Spanish Word: Popote: Straw (in Mexico)
Ushijima Wakatoshi
Why he learned:
His last current concern is literally “he would like to work harder at studying languages”. 
Fair, makes sense. 
But instead of going with a familiar language he just says fuck it time to learn the latin alphabet with Spanish. 
yeah okay why not
Learning Process:
Ushijima is more of a visual learner. 
Which in it’s own makes sense. He’ll probably get a book that has like those floating numbers over items and it tells him what it’s called in Spanish right?
Wrong.
You know what he does?
This man. This 24 year old man. Goes home, opens up Netflix, and puts on... wait for it... DORA.
I kid you not!! Ushijima Wakatoshi will always begin learning a new language by watching children’s shows.
You know why? 
Because he read an article a while back where it said that the best way to start learning languages is by watching children’s shows due to the fact that the shows are literally tailored to teach kids the language.
See what he did there? Y’all thought he was a big dumb dumb but in reality he’s a big smart smart.
Uh, anyways.
He will sit down to watch the children’s shows with a notebook. He takes very good notes, has a Japanese translation for everything.
His show watch list: Dora la Exploradora, Plaza Sesamo, Maya Y Miguel, Go Diego Go, and Handy Manny.
The crazy thing? It actually works. He literally gets his Spanish base from these shows. 
Crazier thing? HE LITERALLY PICKS UP THE CORRECT ACCENTS.
I kid you not bro, he literally somehow managed to sound like a FLUENT speaker. I-
But from there he picks up some more books and audio files to try and increase the complexity of his knowledge.
He’s the best speaker out of the three.
When he uses Spanish in front of you for the first time:
Honestly? He’s been looking for a Spanish partner for a while and he genuinely doesn’t know how to go about it. 
One day though, he overhears you on the phone with your mom. 
He’s seen you before. You’re one of the girls working under the main manager and you’re actually really helpful. If he remembers correctly, you’re the only co-manager that can wrap the compression sleeves just how he likes them.
Anyways, not uh, important.
He’s not one to eavesdrop but, well you’re in the equipment room and he needs to grab one thing. Just a quick in and out. He’ll even turn off his ears.
But then you start speaking like fluent Spanish? And suddenly his ears are very active. 
He doesn’t harass you while you’re on your call. Instead he waits until after practice.
Then he just comes up to you and goes, “Perdóname por molestarte pero, estabas platicándo en Español anterior?”
Kind just sat there like: ◉‿◉ - ( ̄ー ̄) - ⚈ ̫ ⚈
You can’t even speak, you’re still processing that he just spoke Spanish like a natural??? So you just nod.
He launches into a whole talk about how he’s been learning but he needs a speaking partner so that he can get better.
At some point during his whole speech you sit down because your brain IS NOT CATCHING UP.
In the end you agree to become his partner. He’s paying you in food how the hell can you say no?
How you help him with learning/bettering his Spanish:
Like I said before, he’s already good.
You mostly help broaden his knowledge about the culture from Spanish countries and their cultures. A lot of it is through food and the small glimpses of hispanic life from Japan. 
Can’t really teach the customs and traditional stuff unless it’s in person.
You’re actually getting ready to go back home for your once a year family reunion when suddenly this man invites himself to your trip?????
I mean, it’s not a bad idea in the first place but then he offered to pay for your trip and well...
You’re kind of broke and he’s rich so it works alright?
God but going back home? Ultra boosts his spanish.
Not sure if it’s the atmosphere, your family, or just the fact that the country is now in a whole nother language, but this man just adapts. 
It’s really uncanny. 
While he’s here, your family teaches him a lot of Spanish idioms and phrases that don’t translate over well and he starts incorporating them into his every day usage.
Someone on the team got hurt and he literally walked over and rubbed their wrist and went “ Sana, sana, colita de rana. Si no sanas hoy, sanarás mañana.”
When you leave his apartment? “Te veo Mateo”
But he also gets to see how unique and beautiful the culture in your country is. 
His favorite part of the trip? Probably your family’s land that’s just surrounded by nature.
He also really liked the traditional shops that the old ladies from the village ran. (They also liked him and pinched his cheeks and called him a big strong boy so maybe that has something to do with it.)
His favorite Spanish word: Topogigio (to-po-i-yo): In Honduras, frozen ice cream (? not really but don’t know how else to describe) that is typically sold in a small bag. Flavors: Fruit juice or traditional ice cream flavors. 
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